--- title: "Twitter Suspends Multiple Space Journalists for Posting Rockets" description: "It appears that Twitter has taken to suspending space-watching journalists for posting rockets, which is an integral part of their jobs." date: "2023-01-04" modified: "2023-01-04" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/twitter-suspends-space-journalists" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "elon musk" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" - "twitter" --- # Twitter Suspends Multiple Space Journalists for Posting Rockets ![It appears that Twitter has taken to suspending space-watching journalists for posting rockets, which is an integral part of their jobs.]() *\Image: Suzanne Cordeiro via Getty / Futurism\* ## Rocket Power It appears that Twitter has taken to suspending space journalists for posting rockets, which is an integral part of their jobs. At least two accounts — the [account for the *Spaceflight Now*]() blog, as well as the account of [Michael Baylor](), a jack of all trades at the influential space news and livestreaming site [NASASpaceFlight]() — have in recent days gotten the suspension hammer, with fellow space journalists positing that the penalties were due to the accounts posting imagery of SpaceX rockets. Both *NASASpaceFlight* managing editor Chris Bergin and *Spaceflight Now* editor Stephen Clark pointed to the posting of SpaceX launches as the cause for the temporary suspensions, and [Bergin suggested]() that "several" others had also been locked out of their accounts "for showing shots of rockets." "Our account has been locked by Twitter for violating unspecified rules while covering a \[SpaceX\] launch," [Clark tweeted](). "Sorry folks." ## Jokes Aside Baylor has since been un-suspended, and the [video journalist clarified]() that his account was suspended for posting video of the neural network that he uses to track moving rockets. The video is now back up as well, as well as *Spaceflight Now*'s account, though it had to wait out its [full 24 hour suspension](). SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — now also the disastrous head of Twitter — himself waded into the foray with a bizarre, self-effacing joke in response to Bergin, though the meme he posted pokes fun at the social network's "image recognition" software. The "joke," however, didn't make a whole lot of sense in context, and appeared to reference photos of penises, which are still allowed on the site. "I assume no explanation or apology from Twitter..." [tweeted]() Harvard astronomer Jonathan McDowell in response to the news. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1610482997081542657 ## Weird Trend Unfortunately, this is not the first time Twitter has suspended journalists under its new leadership. Last month, the site infamously [suspended numerous journalists]() who'd been critical of Musk, including reporters from the *New York Times* and the *Washington Post*, which unsurprisingly led to near-universal derision. As for now, unless Twitter responds to our request for comment about why space journalists are now getting the suspension treatment — especially given that there are other accounts [tweeting out SpaceX rocket photos]() and [videos]() — we're unlikely to get much clarity. And that's particularly ironic, since transparency has been a [core part of Musk's narrative]() about his takeover of Twitter. **More on SpaceX:** [*Head of NASA Relieved to Hear Elon Musk Isn't REALLY Running SpaceX*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()