During training, you visit many of the facilities that... will eventually play a role in your mission. Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A was one of them. This visit felt different. Standing at the base of the tower and looking up, I was reminded that this is the very place from which Neil Armstrong and his crewmates began their journey to the Moon. The facility has evolved over the decades and has been modernized for a new era of spaceflight, but it still carries the weight of its history. You can feel it. Then there is the elevator. Inside, there are only two buttons: Earth and Space. A simple design choice, perhaps, but one that feels remarkably profound when launch day finally arrives. What you see here is me at the top of the launch pad, with the Falcon 9 yet to make its way out. The rocket is transported to the pad horizontally and then raised to a vertical position before launch. Standing there, it was impossible not to imagine the events that would soon unfold. At this very time last year, all of this was happening in real time. Looking back now, it feels both distant and incredibly close. #shux #space #shubhanshushukla #india #axiom4show more

There is a room in Málaga that was built... to be the closest thing on earth to standing inside heaven. It is called the camarín of the Virgin of Victory, and it is hidden at the top of a tower inside the Santuario de la Victoria. To reach it, you climb and the ascent is the entire point... The building you are climbing through was completed in 1700, and it was designed as a single argument made in stone. At the bottom lies a crypt: a black chamber crowded with white plaster skeletons, a meditation on death and the brevity of life. From there a staircase rises, and as you climb it the light grows stronger and the imagery changes from bones to saints. The architects of the time understood this ascent as the soul's own journey, the dark crypt as the stage of penitence, the staircase as the stage of spiritual progress, and the room at the very top as the final stage: the union of the soul with the divine. That room at the top is the camarín, and its dome is one of the most extraordinary interiors in Spain... Every surface is covered in white and gold plasterwork. There is no empty space anywhere. The Baroque called this horror vacui, the horror of the void: the conviction that a space meant to represent heaven should not contain a single bare patch of stone. Out of that plasterwork emerge angels, flowers, birds, and mirrors. The mirrors are not decoration alone. They catch the light pouring in through the windows of the drum and throw it around the chamber, so that the gold seems to move and the whole room appears to shimmer and breathe. This wonder was built by people who believed that if you wanted to show a human being what heaven might feel like, you did not describe it to them. You built a room, and you let them climb into it... -- -- -- If you enjoyed this, I write a weekly newsletter read by over 50,000 people who love rediscovering the beauty of the past. You can join us here: If you'd like to support my work, a paid subscription is what makes it possible.show more

The Sabotaging Practice of Over Supply and Sameness in... the NFT Space. The current zeitgeist of the NFT space is that the same artists are doing the same kind of work five times a year, with project after project leaving a trail of disappointment and discontent among collectors and all of us watching in disbelief as huge resources are extracted from the space over work that feels like it could be left as an "artist study." I understand that you can do what you want with your money as collectors, but we are killing the whole space with this incestuous practice. No artist is that prolific to be able to do 5 collections of 100+ pieces each every year and actually deliver innovation and some kind of creative evolution. Of course, they can pretend play that the work has something new, but there is no precedent nor proof that that has ever happened in the speed that it happens in the NFT space. Again, people are free to through away their resources on whatever they want but with this way of doing things, we more and more are going to start seeing the consequences. Oh! There are consequences? Yes. Maybe unintended, but there are. Let's see. Let's start with the loss of belief in the NFT space as somewhere where emerging artists can come and find support for their experiments. Why even bother to bring experiments, innovation, and new ways to think of art on the blockchain if the same people have all the collectors hypnotized with their magical flutes? Why even try to come to a space where taking risks and challenging the status quo (the mission of art!!!) is overlooked? This makes the NFT space a social club and not a space for art. I guess it is fine, but IMO it is a recipe for disaster. New collectors stay away because the art will slowly but surely become stale and un-challenging. Why even bother to come and see what is happening here if you can't, as a collector, see new weird and up-and-coming artists? The amount of noise emitted by the same artists doing the same art over and over, drowns out any new voices. Again. A recipe for disaster. The NFT space is becoming a space of disappointment and doubt. We think that collections going to zero one after the other, over and over, is not damaging? I feel we are kidding ourselves. Disappointment piles up, and again, the people who will hurt are the emerging artists, the new blood, the ones who are willing to risk the most and, in return, put fire in this cold space of sameness. I love this space—don't get me wrong—it has changed my life, and I believe it has a ton of potential, but things need to change for it to become a beacon of light in art. But we need to support new voices. We need to support new ideas. The challenge is huge. I hope to contribute all I can to this change. I hope more and more see how exciting it is to go out and try to discover what else is out there and move this space forward. But again, I understand the leaps of faith needed, but if there is a space that is based on that, it's the NFT space...so there is hope. We will see. 📺by Boldtronshow more

Once you return from space, your body discovers that... Earth is no longer as intuitive as it once was. After weeks in microgravity, it has become remarkably efficient at living in an environment where up and down are merely suggestions. Reacquainting it with gravity takes time. Post-flight rehabilitation is a carefully designed program tailored to each astronaut, gradually increasing the intensity and complexity of exercises to retrain balance, coordination, strength, and endurance. The objective is simple: keep challenging the body until Earth feels natural again. At times, I was convinced that my instructor, Emiliano Ventura , had made it his personal mission to find new and creative ways to make me fall. But that is how you learn. By falling. Whether after a space mission or in life. #shux #space #shubhanshushukla #india #axiom4show more

If you ever get the chance to go to... Normandy, take it. Don't just visit it-take your time and let it sink in, because it is one of the most humbling experiences I've ever had. Standing there, looking out across those beaches, you can almost feel the weight of what happened there. It's hard to fully understand what those soldiers went through until you're standing in that place, realizing the courage it took just to run toward that shore. The beauty of Normandy is quiet and powerful, but so is the sacrifice it represents. The rows of white crosses, the history in the ground, the silence in the air-it all reminds you that freedom came at a tremendous cost. It's the kind of place that stays with you long after you leave. It makes you grateful, reflective, and a little more aware of how much was given for the life we live today. Normandy is more than a battlefield. It is a lesson in sacrifice, bravery, and remembrance. 🙏🇺🇸🙏show more

The widely anticipated launch of the SpaceX/NASA Crew-10 mission... from the Kennedy Space Center has been scrubbed in the last minutes before launch due to a hydraulics issue with the ground equipment. The mission was set to finally allow the return of two astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams. The two astronauts have been in space at the International Space Station (ISS) for more than nine months after Boeing’s Starliner was deemed too unsafe to bring them home due to issues with the thrusters and was returned to Earth uncrewed. The next launch window will likely be tomorrow, with the astronauts returning home Friday hopefully.show more

I think what’s so poetic about this image is... that it was unintentional. I had my phone set up to record the launch and at about 40 seconds into the launch, it hit me that this is the FIRST TIME a woman is going to the moon. My mother and grandmother were alive during the Apollo missions but this is the FIRST time they’re witnessing a woman making that journey. My heart filled and I turned the camera to capture my reaction in that exact moment. I’m so glad I did. The image you’re seeing is a woman in STEM in awe over Christina Koch - and the impact her journey will have on millions of girls around the world. The launch reflecting in my glasses - well, that was just the icing on top of the cake.show more

Falcon 9 and Dragon roll out to the launch... pad at 39A in Florida for NASA’s Crew-11 mission to the International Space Stationshow more

Falcon 9 and Dragon roll out to the launch... pad at 39A in Florida for NASA's Crew-10 mission to the International Space Stationshow more

No matter how many years it has been, I... still love to make Mario Moonwalk every time I reach Super Mario Bros. World 4-2. As a kid, it was part of the neighborhood collective play pattern. Like blowing in cartridges and the Contra Code, it was one of those things that was simply “known.” Michael Jackson was at the height of his popularity, and most kids knew of the Moonwalk, which became legendary after he first performed it during Billie Jean at Motown 25. A neighborhood boy showed this to me one day in the late 80s playing it on Nintendo and we all thought it was so cool. Years later it’s still habit! Though familiar to many, I realize this might be new to some. To do it, enter World 4-2 small, make the cursed jump, then leave enough space at the left of the screen so that you can walk back under there after getting the hidden mushroom. Face left, then press right when the Mushroom reaches you to Moonwalk! Whether new to you or simply a fun reminder of a gaming staple of youth, I hope it gives you a smile today ❤️show more

Dragon Launch Escape Initiated During the launch escape test,... where SpaceX intentionally destroyed an entire rocket to prove its safety, Dragon was fed the normal launch sequence for an ISS mission. Dragon wasn’t told to escape, but its onboard autonomous flight computers noticed the loss of thrust on Falcon before the Merlin engines could even fully shut down. Once Dragon realized there was a mission critical anomaly, it instantly initiated the launch escape sequence firing all 8 SuperDraco thrusters, separating explosive bolts on the second stage, and took autonomous control of the mission, in less time than any human reaction on the ground or in the capsule could of realized. Falcon, the crew, Dragon, and the ground can all initiate an escape if required. Although this test was uncrewed (meaning nobody was on the rocket during the test), if there was a life threatening emergency that would put the mission at risk, Dragon could leave and get out of the situation immediately.show more

Kedarnath is a tremendous space. The utterance of the... sound “Shiva” attains a completely new dimension and significance in Kedar. It is a space which has been specially prepared for this particular sound. When we utter the word “Shiva,” it is the freedom of the uncreated, the liberation of one who is not created. It is almost like on this planet, the sound “Shiva” emanates from this place. For thousands of years, people have experienced that space as a reverberation of that sound. This is also a place that has witnessed thousands of Yogis and mystics of every kind. When I say every kind, you cannot imagine those kinds. These are people who made no attempt to teach anything to anyone. Their way of making an offering to the world was by leaving their energies, their path, their work – everything – in a certain way in these spaces.show more

Just got back from the match, and it still... hasn't quite sunk in. Last year was about overcoming the heartbreak and near misses for the first time. This year felt different. There was a calm confidence around this team, a feeling that they had learned from the setbacks and were ready for this moment. Being in the stadium to watch RCB lift their second IPL trophy was genuinely special. Not just because of the result, but because of the journey it took to get here. You could feel what it meant to the players and the fans who have stayed invested through all the highs and lows. Seeing that shared sense of joy at the final whistle is something I'll remember for a long time. A title built on resilience, belief, and delivering when it mattered most. Very glad I got to witness it in person. 🏆❤️ #RCB #IPLshow more

"Indian Army man harassed a girl." 🚨🇮🇳 Being a... girl is not easy in India, and public spaces often make it even more unsafe. This incident is an example of that. A girl, Manjusha Day, was traveling on a train from Silchar to Guwahati when she faced an uncomfortable situation. A man stood near the door of the coach for hours, continuously staring at her and making gestures that made her uneasy. She explained the whole incident: "What was supposed to be a normal 12-hour train journey from Silchar to Guwahati turned into a very uncomfortable experience. I was traveling with my friend when we noticed a man standing near the door of our coach for hours, constantly staring at me and making signals that made me feel uneasy. We tried to ignore him at first, but the situation became disturbing and I started to feel unsafe. Eventually, I informed the TT. When questioned, the man claimed he was standing there because he felt cold, but he had been there for a long time staring at us. Because of this, I couldn't sleep the entire night and the journey became stressful. It reminded me how important it is to speak up when something feels wrong during travel. The girl claimed that he holds an official position in the Indian Army. This is more shameful. Being in the Army also does not justify harassing a woman, nor does it reduce the seriousness of such behaviour.show more

I’m so sorry from the bottom of my heart... for putting this in public domain. But if you look away, it will come your way. IT IS GRAPHIC. I have never imagined to be one to publish anything remotely close to it, but against the evil propaganda and lies we must put the documentation. This video is from the massacre at the Reim music festival. It includes a part of the hiding time and then when the rescue finally arrives. The guy that made it later said that he was saved thanks to the bodies that were on him. #HamasIsIsis 💔show more

The past year has seen me have a renaissance,... in the truest sense… I won’t go into details now but will at some point before long. What has brought so much happiness to my life and those around me this past year has been my falling back in love with sport. Cycling has, and always will be, my number one. Yet I’d forgotten that I simply love sport, not for results but for the sheer joy of doing it, I’d completely forgotten that the health of my mind is intrinsically connected to the health of my body. I’ve rediscovered the love I had for sport that existed before the world of professional cycling took over in the way it did. I’ve been pushing myself and trying new things this past year, indifferent to the results, just out having fun and at times going deeper than I thought I was capable of anymore. Last week I got on a TT bike for the first time in a decade, Factor Bikes built me a bike, I’ve been looking at it for two years and decided it was time to get fitted, getting back on it felt like going home. Anyway, the long and the short of this is that it’s inspired me to create a club to inspire and be inspired. A community for us to share our love for getting out there and doing it, because I’ve realized that although I spend most of my sporting life on my own I derive the most pleasure when feeling part of something. It’s in its early days, I’ve called it Sporting Club CHPT3 aka SCC3, I’d love you to check it out and join. It’s still in its infancy, but I hope it’s going to grow into something that will inspire you as much as me.show more

Sorry if I did not answer many of you.... I’ve never been a fan of the online eulogy. The immediate fallout is always about loved ones. And we should leave those closest be. And then I realised of course I was just incredibly upset, and a large digital outpouring is inevitable and testament to his character. My devastation came from having to watch it all unfold. From spending years trying to help and actually getting him close to a point where he almost had a normal life again - then being powerless to stop him doing things he should not have. Powerless in every sense as it also meant it sometimes not being my place to say anything. In the end watching some of the evil shits around enable the worst of it was too much for me, I had to step back it was too painful to watch. I told my mate who was filling in for me looking after him “ah I just need some space from it all, I’ll be back with him after Christmas” and then suddenly there was no Christmas. And it turned out no one was to blame, and I immediately looked to blame myself most of all, fearing the worst. But it was a simple accident in the end. A bolt out of the blue. So if you are ever estranged or overwhelmed by friends and family and think it will all be OK one day - DON’T put it off. Reach out now. Grab that person and hold them tight. There may not be a tomorrow. You might not be around to see them off. There may not be the grand luxury of time available you thought there was. He died in the arms of his beloved son, and that is a measure of comfort, if a passing can ever have any. He was my mentor, my friend and my glad burden. And there was nothing I would not do for him.show more

The United Launch Alliance Atlas V has arrived on... the launch pad for its midnight ride to low Earth orbit tonight, continuing the rocket's workhorse service in helping deploy the Amazon Leo constellation. ULA's Atlas has launched more than half of the network's satellites so far. ULA is proceeding with a continuous roll-and-launch in a single-day countdown, part of our efforts to increase launch cadence for our Amazon Leo customer. This effort reduces the amount of time the rocket spends at the pad, enabling launch to occur sooner. Liftoff time is 12:24 a.m. EDT (0424 UTC). // Amazon Leoshow more

Apparently, I saw this video online and I decided... to share. What this worker is applying is called bitumen, or what many of us know as bituminous coating. Most people think a wall is a solid, impenetrable block, but in reality, it is more like a sponge. Concrete and blocks have microscopic pores that pull water from the earth through a process we call capillary action. This thick black substance is the shield that stops that water from climbing up into the house. It is not about making the wall look good because this part will be buried under the dirt forever. It is about creating a skin that water cannot breathe through. When do you need to do this? The need for this arises because the soil is a very aggressive environment. Water is not your only enemy.. The ground also contains salts and sulfates that want to eat away at the cement. If this moisture finds its way to the steel bars inside the columns, those bars will start to rust. And when steel rusts, it expands, and that expansion is what cracks the concrete from the inside out. This coating is the only thing standing between your foundation and that kind of slow destruction. Thats is why if you see wet patches at the bottom of your walls inside your house, it usually means someone skipped this step or did it poorly during construction. You can apply this anytime you are building parts of a structure that will stay in contact with the ground. It is common in areas where the water table is high or where the soil stays damp for most of the year. This is a one-shot opportunity. Once you backfill the soil, you can never go back to fix it without a lot of expense and a lot of digging. It is about having the foresight to protect the heart of the building while it is still exposed. Please don’t ignore this if you need to. If you ignore it now to save a bit of money, you will be funding the future decay of your own home. I hope this helps.show more