Tom Winterton

[Vantor @vantortech]

This is a spent Chinese Long March 3B rocket body, imaged by a Vantor WorldView Legion satellite from 88 km away.

The image quality is not simply about range. It reflects the strength of Vantor’s advanced WorldView constellation and high-performance imaging hardware, which enable detailed observation of objects in orbit.

It’s a powerful example of Vantor’s NEI tasking through our WorldView Space product line: using high-resolution satellites to look out into space and capture detailed imagery of objects in orbit.

Why does that matter? Most tracking systems can show where an object is. WorldView Space NEI helps show what it is, its structure, orientation, condition, and potential risk. It can also support Movement Analysis, helping operators understand whether an object is intact, tumbling, spinning, or otherwise changing behavior over time.

That level of detail is especially important for large rocket bodies like this one. They are big, long-lived debris objects that share orbits with critical infrastructure, including communications, Earth observation, weather, science, and national security satellites. A single collision involving an intact rocket stage can create thousands of new fragments, increasing risk across already crowded orbital regions.

As launch activity accelerates, we need to understand not just where objects are in space, but what they are, how they are moving, and how they may behave over time.

[Kyle Anthony Miller @kyleanthony]

Pan Am's branding is pure gold

[serene.rain 🪁 @ry_serene]

Digital systems tend to take the place of analog systems, even in the cases where analog systems are perfectly sufficient.

[John Kraus @johnkrausphotos]

@Velocity_Photos Not quite, couldn’t get that close until later, so no VAB, and went for horizontal instead of vertical… but similar idea :-)

[grant!!! @GrantObi]

bro @johnkrausphotos please tell me you recreated this shot, please 🥺🥺🥺

[Chris Hadfield @Cmdr_Hadfield]

This behemoth machine is carrying the Artemis 2 Moon rocket out to the launch pad. It carried the Shuttles I launched in too. A massive, clanking crawler and skilled crew, taking infinite care.
Watch live: https://t.co/CqPEUlDSZb
@NASA

[perigeeaero.shop inc (wokely) @Orbital_Perigee]

Real Quote from the Astro Awards

[perigeeaero.shop inc (wokely) @Orbital_Perigee]

Another banger, this time from Eric Berger

[jack friks @jackfriks]

did the same thing for my girlfriend (now fiancee)… made an app for her and now it makes $5,000/month

[Tom Winterton @winterton_tom]

@asingleoat @peteoxenham It was the +40% longer print time that got me 😂 That said though, the hexagons do look cooler.

[NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman @NASAAdmin]

Welcome to the Artemis Accords, Portugal! 🇵🇹

One of America's oldest allies has joined this growing coalition of nations committed to safe, transparent, and peaceful exploration of space.

This 60th signing strengthens the Artemis alliance, ignites more opportunities for transatlantic collaboration, and helps build the orbital and lunar economy.

[Ekaeo @Ekaeoq]

Always sketch your CAD ideas before going into CAD

[U.S. Graphics Company @usgraphics]

CS-100 Houston Mono™ Typeface Specimens
Unbound 12 SpectraEtch™ Prints
ISBN: 978-1-970994-00-1
$47.50 + Shipping (US, Canada, Europe)

URL: usgraphics.​com/catalog/CS-100

Qty 17 available. Link in the comments.

[Ryan McEntush @rmcentush]

in 2024, russia reportedly tried to ship naval nuclear reactor components to north korea. that vessel, the ursa major, was — allegedly — sunk before it arrived. right now, north korean missiles can’t reliably hit the us, and we can see launches coming. north korea with nuclear submarines would change that calculus entirely.

this kind of shadow logistics isn’t unique. the bella 1 was moving from iran toward venezuela under a different name while spoofing its location, then abruptly turned around and declared itself russian. over the past few days, us aircraft have been scanning the north atlantic, and rumors of boarding teams staging in europe have been circulating. now it appears russia has sent a submarine to escort the ship, with a fleet waiting in russian waters.

and in the backdrop, america is insisting it needs greater control over greenland for national security reasons. interesting times.

[Tom Winterton @winterton_tom]

@exitsenses There's a lot to learn from the weekly videos by blancolirio over a morning coffee before work in the morning.

[Tarun Raju @btarunr]

One thing Americans and Russians have in common that no other major military power does, is a well-maintained fully-analog set of reserve equipment that lacks electronics and cannot be taken out by EMP. These include steam locomotives, battleships, etc.

[Brandon Donnelly @donnelly_b]

I love offices like these. Lived in, with ideas all around you.

[Flightradar24 @flightradar24]

How’s this for a way to start the new year!? Enjoying London’s fireworks at 1,500 feet above the city and a pass right over Heathrow.

[David Hansen 🇺🇸 🇳🇿 @boxcardavid]

Generations lost