The War on Ukraine, and How It Will Affect Aerospace: Three Excellent Twitter Sources to Follow
Three excellent Twitter sources to follow as this situation continues to unfold.
It almost goes without writing that since Russia invaded Ukraine on Wednesday, February 23rd, there has been a lot of information (and misinformation) spread via social media channels, most notably Twitter, which has allowed the war to be chronicled in near-real-time. Here are three great spaceflight/aerospace Twitter accounts that consistently have provided the most accurate, reliable news updates:
- Anatoly Zak — Russian Space Web: Zak is the author of the invaluable book Russia in Space, and his website Russian Space Web is known to provide up-to-date information about anything Russian spaceflight-related. I highly suggest you subscribe to his insider content. His Twitter account (@RussianSpaceWeb) has been providing updates on the status of Russian aerospace endeavors and possible future activities nonstop since Wednesday. If the status of Russia aboard the International Space Station changes, this is where you’ll hear it first.
- Dr. Jonathan McDowell: Astronomer McDowell is one of the world’s experts — if not the world’s expert — in providing orbital parameters of objects and spacecraft as they traverse space. This week, the head of the Russian space program, Dmitry Rogozin, heavily implied that sanctions would threaten the position of the International Space Station. McDowell was on standby, and later proved that the ISS was being reboosted, business as usual. This resource is indispensable as the current situation unfolds, and as there could be (heavily “could be”) changes to existing space infrastructure. Follow him at @planet4589 and follow his frequently updated website here.
- European Space Agency: European Space Agency’s (ESA) Twitter account has promised it will provide updates on how the current situation will affect its programs, and it has released a statement on the crisis in Ukraine. I would suggest following this account if you’d like to find out more about how this unfolding situation will affect European spaceflight, especially as Roscosmos (Russia’s space agency) has withdrawn from Europe’s spaceport at Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana.
If you have any other suggestions to add to this list (remember — please avoid misinformation), please feel free to do so in the comments section.
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