I’m going to need gull wing doors and look a little more delorean-like and I can soon a very, very happy woman.

Let’s go crew 13 🍀

My favorite part of sharing space news is doing so as factually as possible. The latest launch was another interesting example; both interviews mentioned “the firey explosion” at the end. Which both I had to correct, yes that happened, but it’s not meant to slam down into the water. Anywho; it’s been an awesome (sometimes stressful) 10+ appearances and countless more on call that got scrubbed. I do realize what a privilege this is.

I think it stayed cut just off screen but 100% wore my starship sweatshirt for the news today 😂 #spacecasesarah

Congrats @SpaceX! Even with the hiccups and shortened flight, I’m excited to see this bad boy come home. #spacecasesarah

When I started my PhD I had just stepped off this ship, not knowing how hugely my expedition would change my career. The only thing I knew I wanted to focus my research on was how to make people care more about science; in particular, how can we make people stay invested in long duration science… such as when we send a space craft to Jupiters system, which can take up to 7 years to get there. I then started getting involved in planetarium work. In my mind, it was just another tool of my scicomm work… no different than when I was on the radio, or when I wrote an article, or go on the news. But then the planetarium stuff took off like wildfire. What I began to notice was how profound of an experience people had in the dome. I’ve done lots of sidewalk astronomy and seen people blown away by telescope views, but the dome? There was something special to it. And that’s when I realized… this. This could be a powerful medium for engaging people to care about science. Especially for ocean research, because who thinks of sharing ocean science and goes “planetarium!” And so, a PhD study was born. As I wrap it up, I basically have SO much more now I want to do than when I started. The JOIDES Resolution, the Lost City, planetariums… I could have never guessed this direction. Like ever. I used to try to keep the direction and narrative of who I am as a science communicator linear in my head but. I’ve given up on that. I say my heart is in the ocean, my head is in the stars. And I love communicating it all, especially in the dome. And the research truly has just begun! #spacecasesarah

We passed a milestone today. We collected all the data. When I say “we” it’s because these kids truly are 100% a part of this PhD journey. I took this picture here purposefully. I stared at this corn field many-a time waiting for them at our very regularly required neutral meeting locations during parenting exchanges. Every. Single. Battle. Both professionally and personally has been for them. And they’ve watched every step of it. They’ve been dragged along to countless of presentations, seen me pull out metaphorically countless amounts of hairs, and watched countless amounts of my tears fall. Every inch forward I’ve shared with them, while also showing there are an unbelievable amount of fails along the way. Walking (and I absolutely will be walking) will be probably one of the most emotional moments of my life. Everything has been for them, to show them they also can grow up to dare mighty things. I am so grateful to every single one of you who have helped us in some shape or form. Tonight we celebrate.

A very honest life update: I am tired, guys. Like really, really tired. I have been trying to navigate a complicated legal situation involving my kids while finishing my PhD and dissertation research, homeschooling two kids, doing paid work wherever I can get it, and figuring out how to keep the normal bills paid at the same time. I did manage to retain an attorney, which was a HUGE hurdle and something I genuinely wasn’t sure I was going to be able to pull off. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make that possible. But getting through that emergency didn’t magically make the rest of the financial or emotional strain disappear. So I’m swallowing my pride and saying this plainly: I could really use some help right now. And help does NOT have to mean giving me money. If you’re a teacher, librarian, homeschool group, park district, scout troop, community organization, senior center, business, festival, birthday party, or basically any group of humans who might enjoy having the universe brought to them, BOOK ME. I have a portable planetarium and I will happily bring space to you. spacecasedomes.com If you’re an adult and can spare about 30 minutes, I still need participants for my PhD research. Helping me finish data collection is genuinely helping me get closer to finishing this degree. youtu.be/HoDU4vT8qy8 If you have a couple dollars and want to throw them toward my GoFundMe (or Venmo which I’ll put in the comments), I will be incredibly grateful. gofund.me/ea3846e5c If you don’t have money but know someone who might book a show, SHARE MY STUFF. If you have a job lead that actually makes sense for someone with my background, send it to me. And if you have absolutely none of those things? I will also accept memes, coffee, encouragement, someone telling me to eat something, or just a straight up hug because I am stressed and exhausted and trying very hard to keep all of these plates spinning. I don’t need everyone to rescue me. I just need a lot of people to help me carry a tiny piece of this for a minute. Thank you to the people who already have. 💜

When scientists are supported in outreach, the impact goes beyond research. One SCoPE Seed Grant awardee brought a portable planetarium to local schools, connecting ocean science to space. “It has changed my life… and children’s lives too.” - @SpaceCaseSarah #STEMeducation

🍎 Today votes can count for 2! Help my kiddo meet his hero Bill Nye by becoming America’s Favorite Student! americasfavstudent.org/2026/…

That face you make when you realize you have to be 1st to move on into the top 20, not a part of the top 20 to move on so uh…. GAH!!! We gotta a little over a week folks to keep the momentum going to have Miles still in America’s Favorite Student! Get your moo vote in today if you haven’t yet and VOTE DAILY! americasfavstudent.org/2026/…

My kids #1 dream is to meet Bill Nye the Science Guy! Help us make this a possibility by voting for him to be America’s Favorite Student! Voting is open now here: americasfavstudent.org/2026/…

Why vote for Miles for America’s Favorite Student? 🚀 He LOVES learning! He’s the kid who runs to tell everyone the cool fact he just discovered. 🚀 Math is his favorite subject because he loves solving puzzles. 🚀 His dream jobs change weekly: paleontologist, engineer, astronaut… maybe all three. 🚀Winning means meeting his HERO Bill Nye the Science Guy 🚀Most importantly, he’s a curious kid who genuinely loves discovering how the universe works. 🗳️Voting opens March 16, but you can check out his profile now here: americasfavstudent.org/2026/… Thanks for cheering Miles on ❤️ #FutureScientist #STEMKids #AmericasFavoriteStudent

When my son Miles was about two years old he used to dance around my living room to the theme song from Bill Nye the Science Guy. His dream is to meet Bill Nye someday, and he’s currently in the running for America’s Favorite Student. Voting opens March 16. 🚀 americasfavstudent.org/2026/…

A little personal science family moment tonight. My son Miles was accepted into the America’s Favorite Student competition. He’s the kind of kid who loves asking questions about how the world works be it space, dinosaurs, math puzzles, engineering… basically ALL the science. When I told him about the competition, I asked what he hoped would happen if he won. His answer was immediate: “I want to meet Bill Nye.” Voting doesn’t open until March 16, but we’re excited and proud of him and wanted to share the milestone. 🚀 americasfavstudent.org/2026/…

Thanks for having me @Elex_Michaelson! Pretty neat to see more and more people getting excited about space. #spacex #scicomm #spacecasesarah

I got banned from using Messenger until January 12th. My son Miles has had a little stuffed lamb, his comfort buddy since the day he was born. It has been with him through everything: thunderstorms and tornados, sick nights, doctor visits, days away from his parents, the night of the domestic battery, multiple moves, fear, tears… all of it. It sleeps with him every night. It’s his emotional support, even if it’s “just a stuffed animal” to the rest of the world. This weekend, while he was in a Lyft with his dad, it went missing. Unfortunately, because of our current situation, every exchange must be done at the police department, and his father is unable to drive right now, so he relies on rideshares. I wasn’t even told TT was gone until days later, which was heartbreaking and incredibly frustrating as I had ensured he had it when exiting my vehicle. When I finally found out, momma bear mode kicked in. I drove to the police station to see if it had been turned in. Nothing. I searched the parking lot. Nothing. So I reached out directly to Lyft on Messenger, hoping maybe someone could help. And I need to pause here to say this: Lyft was incredible. Whoever was on the other side of that chat showed compassion, kindness, and humanity to a frantic mom trying to help her heartbroken child. They listened. They cared. They helped contact the driver. Their words alone meant the world to me yesterday. But… after that conversation, Meta decided I violated “cybersecurity standards” and flagged me as someone trying to hack someone else’s account. Which is absolutely NOT what happened. I never asked for passwords, account access, or anything inappropriate. I just asked a company to help reach a driver. And now I’m banned from Messenger for 7 days. With no way to appeal. As someone who has been on Facebook since 2005, and who pays for Meta services for my Space Case Sarah work, that stings. And in the end, when the driver finally did respond, and TT wasn’t in the car. It was likely dropped in the parking lot getting into the Lyft. A tiny piece of history is gone for Miles… and honestly for me too. I know it’s “just a stuffed animal,” but it wasn’t just a stuffed animal to my little boy. I’m sad. Yesterday hurt. And now losing access to a major communication tool for me (albeit briefly) because of this? It feels deeply unjust. But I also want to say: Thank you, Lyft. Thank you for kindness in a world that so often forgets how to be human. We will miss you, TT. 💔 #kindness #Lyft #thankyou