Gravitational wave astrophysicist working on Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Dad, husband, outdoor lover, and expat New Mexican living in greater Washington, DC. Employed by NASA, but opinions are my own.https://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lhzkunwfn22hWaPo burying the lede here on their otherwise informative analysis of the federal workforce. If Trump succeeds in making a 25% cut to the federal workforce, that makes less than a 1% cut to federal spending. Why? Because most federal spending is in grants or contracts going to people or companies.13 Feb 2025 01:45 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhzkunwfn22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lhz7kut4j22kThis is for any other Xennials out there: I always thought the mid-life crisis was supposed to be a personal thing, not a national or global thing. Was I wrong? 🤔12 Feb 2025 22:22 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhz7kut4j22khttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lgts2btx2k2bFinally deleted my dormant X account. Now the right wing trolls are in charge of my real life so I don’t need to experience it online.29 Jan 2025 01:12 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgts2btx2k2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lfbptwjznk2aHorrified at the news out of LA and the devastation in Altadena in particular. I always stayed there during my many visits to JPL and enjoyed running through the hilly streets and sampling many of the great shops and eateries. Keeping my JPL colleagues in my thoughts.09 Jan 2025 03:19 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfbptwjznk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lf43chzabk2eHappy 113th birthday to #FairNewMexico, my beloved home state. Photo is one I took of chimney rock above Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu with Cerro Pedernal in the background06 Jan 2025 21:28 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lf43chzabk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3ldvilvnrr22mInterviewer: Can you explain this gap in your resume? Astronomer: Actually we’re not sure if it is a real gap in my resume or whether we just haven’t yet discovered what I did during that time. We’re going to need a bigger telescope to find out. 🔭 [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Dec 2024 13:13 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldvilvnrr22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lcfsrc5rt22xImpressive results from MeerKAT PTA with just 4.5yrs of data! [contains quote post or other embedded content]03 Dec 2024 14:07 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcfsrc5rt22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lcffdnz2ck2xNine years ago today: ESA launches LISA Pathfinder, a mission to demonstrate key technology for LISA. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work this mission through operations and analysis. A great spacecraft and a great team put us in position to make LISA happen.03 Dec 2024 10:06 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcffdnz2ck2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lceneau4w22xHi, I’m a gravitational wave astronomer. My greatest hits include “opening a new window on the universe”, “Einstein was right”, and the Christmas multimessenger song “do you see what I hear?” [contains quote post or other embedded content]03 Dec 2024 02:57 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lceneau4w22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lcdhv5icot27@bot.astronomy.blue signup02 Dec 2024 15:47 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcdhv5icot27https://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lcdhouyf4l27For any US-based #LISA researchers who may be out there, NASA is running another round of the LISA Preparatory Science program to build capability to leverage LISA science. NoIs are due Jan 17th and we've posted a list of "science gaps" to help inspire proposals. https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?solId=%7B05108FA8-5F27-3547-BBAF-0284D97BA62F02 Dec 2024 15:43 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcdhouyf4l27https://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lc6ecmyvt22sQuick trip to Ocean City, MD to visit family for Thanksgiving. Enjoyed a peaceful day at Assateague Island National seashore which was good for the soul. My crazy kids even went swimming in the ocean despite the cold temps.30 Nov 2024 14:59 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lc6ecmyvt22shttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lbsozpnmyl2xSome semi-recent progress on our LISA work at NASA Goddard. We took delivery of a prototype telescope for LISA back in May. This telescope isn't used to take pictures, it's used to transmit laser beams across the 2.5 million kilometer LISA constellation. https://science.nasa.gov/missions/lisa/nasa-reveals-prototype-telescope-for-gravitational-wave-observatory/25 Nov 2024 23:39 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbsozpnmyl2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lbsoqjcrod2xOne of the best things about doing science at NASA is the opportunity to work with science communicators who are absolute pros and help you tell your story. https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/curious-universe/the-invisible-world-of-gravitational-waves/25 Nov 2024 23:34 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbsoqjcrod2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3lbsmv4c36s2x[1/?] To mark the occasion of my 500th follower, which seems really strange given that I have made exactly one post on this platform since making an account about 18mo ago, I wanted to briefly introduce myself to the community.25 Nov 2024 23:01 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbsmv4c36s2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ithorpe.bsky.social/post/3k5plujz4hq2lWhelp. Here we go with Bluesky24 Aug 2023 14:58 +0000at://did:plc:ggw7bkpp6nflf3sjlfbfbb2j/app.bsky.feed.post/3k5plujz4hq2l