Ian J. O'Neill

@[email protected]
814 Followers
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122 Posts
Hello! I'm a news media specialist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a space and science fiction fan. In a past life I was a solar physicist. Now, I'm a science communicator, media rep for a plethora of NASA/JPL projects and missions, and a writer. he/him.
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Ian J. O'NeillMay 12, 2023
What a rollercoaster ride that was. I'm crestfallen that the ops team couldn't get #LunarFlashlight to the Moon, but we learnt so much from this plucky CubeSat. It's been an honor to lead the comms for this tiny spacecraft and to work with such an inspiring team 🛰️❤️ Read all the details in today's news release: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-calls-end-to-lunar-flashlight-after-some-tech-successes
NASA Calls End to Lunar Flashlight After Some Tech Successes

While the CubeSat couldn’t reach the lunar South Pole to help seek ice, it fulfilled several technology goals that will empower future missions for the benefit of humanity.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Ian J. O'NeillApr 12, 2023
Got to hang out with some old friends today
Ian J. O'NeillMar 30, 2023
Super fun "fireside" chat at NASA JPL today with JPL Director Laurie Leshin and NASA's brand new Associate Administrator for Science Nicky Fox 🙌🙌🙌
Ian J. O'NeillMar 17, 2023
ICYMI: This week was a pretty big week for planetary science and a very big week for volcanoes on Venus! Using archival radar images from NASA's Magellan mission, two scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory determined that a vent associated with Venus' tallest volcano Maat Mons changed shape and expanded significantly in 8 months of 1991, signifying a likely volcanic eruption. Why is that important? Read on: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-magellan-data-reveals-volcanic-activity-on-venus
NASA’s Magellan Data Reveals Volcanic Activity on Venus

In a first, scientists have seen direct evidence of active volcanism on Earth’s twin, setting the stage for the agency’s VERITAS mission to investigate.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Ian J. O'NeillMar 3, 2023
Time for #TheMandalorian with the little guy
Ian J. O'NeillMar 2, 2023
We're not just about awesome space robots; #NASAJPL's incredible scientists are also making huge strides in quantum optics. Writing this feature about the #PEACOQ project almost broke my brain, but what an incredible technology... and it's not sci-fi. This is happening NOW: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-quantum-detector-achieves-world-leading-milestone
NASA’s Quantum Detector Achieves World-Leading Milestone

A new JPL- and Caltech-developed detector could transform how quantum computers, located thousands of miles apart, exchange huge quantities of quantum data.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Ian J. O'NeillFeb 26, 2023
I approve of the blue skies, and can we keep the snowcapped mountain? 🏔☀️
Ian J. O'NeillFeb 23, 2023

This was a fascinating #NASAJPL news feature to work on and it emphasizes the need of further research into Venus. Using archived #NASAMagellen mission observations, a new study suggests the planet's lithosphere may be "squishy", causing regional resurfacing.

"For so long we’ve been locked into this idea that #Venus' lithosphere is stagnant and thick, but our view is now evolving.” - Sue Smrekar, study lead and #VERITAS mission principal investigator.

Read more: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/study-finds-venus-squishy-outer-shell-may-be-resurfacing-the-planet

Study Finds Venus’ ‘Squishy’ Outer Shell May Be Resurfacing the Planet

The research uses archival NASA data to show that Venus may be losing heat from geologic activity in regions called coronae, possibly like early tectonic activity on Earth.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Ian J. O'NeillFeb 21, 2023
Weather, man.
Ian J. O'NeillFeb 19, 2023
Still can't quite believe that it's been 2 years since Perseverance landed on Mars 😳