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# ![@KenKirtland17 Avatar](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:26/cr:twitter::1129821565.png) @KenKirtland17 Ken Kirtland IV

Ken Kirtland IV posts on X about spacex, artemis, lander, hls the most. They currently have XXXXXX followers and XX posts still getting attention that total XXXXXXX engagements in the last XX hours.

### Engagements: XXXXXXX [#](/creator/twitter::1129821565/interactions)
![Engagements Line Chart](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:600/cr:twitter::1129821565/c:line/m:interactions.svg)

- X Week XXXXXXX +177%
- X Month XXXXXXXXX +235%
- X Months XXXXXXXXX -XX%
- X Year XXXXXXXXXX +59%

### Mentions: XX [#](/creator/twitter::1129821565/posts_active)
![Mentions Line Chart](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:600/cr:twitter::1129821565/c:line/m:posts_active.svg)

- X Week XX +6.80%
- X Month XXX +55%
- X Months XXX -XX%
- X Year XXXXX -XX%

### Followers: XXXXXX [#](/creator/twitter::1129821565/followers)
![Followers Line Chart](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:600/cr:twitter::1129821565/c:line/m:followers.svg)

- X Week XXXXXX +1.30%
- X Month XXXXXX +2%
- X Months XXXXXX +2.60%
- X Year XXXXXX +141%

### CreatorRank: XXXXXX [#](/creator/twitter::1129821565/influencer_rank)
![CreatorRank Line Chart](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:600/cr:twitter::1129821565/c:line/m:influencer_rank.svg)

### Social Influence [#](/creator/twitter::1129821565/influence)
---

**Social category influence**
[finance](/list/finance)  XXXX% [countries](/list/countries)  XXXX% [stocks](/list/stocks)  XXXX%

**Social topic influence**
[spacex](/topic/spacex) 8.24%, [artemis](/topic/artemis) #28, [lander](/topic/lander) 4.71%, [hls](/topic/hls) #1, [money](/topic/money) 3.53%, [inflation](/topic/inflation) #1470, [china](/topic/china) 2.35%, [iii](/topic/iii) #1700, [department of](/topic/department-of) #719, [$2413t](/topic/$2413t) XXXX%

**Top accounts mentioned or mentioned by**
[@kmh](/creator/undefined) [@starbaserr](/creator/undefined) [@daveenright6](/creator/undefined) [@peculiar_sna](/creator/undefined) [@beastsinjars](/creator/undefined) [@_frankypi](/creator/undefined) [@frankypi](/creator/undefined) [@drchriscombs](/creator/undefined) [@blobifie](/creator/undefined) [@bellikozan](/creator/undefined) [@smmmmss2](/creator/undefined) [@waschatchsquach](/creator/undefined) [@scholtz1971](/creator/undefined) [@iallergicspace](/creator/undefined) [@8lackprince](/creator/undefined) [@outofwritings](/creator/undefined) [@saadusmani78](/creator/undefined) [@sts1251](/creator/undefined) [@eagerspace](/creator/undefined) [@spaceflight1905](/creator/undefined)

**Top assets mentioned**
[Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT)](/topic/lockheed-martin)
### Top Social Posts [#](/creator/twitter::1129821565/posts)
---
Top posts by engagements in the last XX hours

"HLS is a public program. We deserve some sort of info reveal hell even hype 2026 is the year to do this. With Artemis X starship orbit refill etc. I remember when SpaceX had a whole unveiling of Crew Dragon. Lets do the same for HLS"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1979568669995970635) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-18T15:22Z 15.3K followers, 123.8K engagements


"To match SLS pace for example SpaceX needs to launch the Demo landing mission by June 2032 and the crewed lander in November 2035 (assuming the april launch date for Artemis X holds)"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981060439996776863) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T18:09Z 15.3K followers, 8764 engagements


"Digging for any new info in the docs @Blobifie found. XXX m3 habitable volume for HLS starship More than I expected at this point but I'm guessing thats mostly cathedral ceilings in the nose cone. It also has the unpressurized garage section with the elevator. 🧵"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1979561031535120692) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-18T14:51Z 15.3K followers, 121.6K engagements


"I can't be the only one to notice that SpaceX is the only company held accountable to timelines and repeatedly quipped at in public by NASA across administrations. Antares got none of this. Starliner for crying out loud has never faced this. SLS goes without saying 😂"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980270590251422200) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-20T13:51Z 15.3K followers, 72.1K engagements


"Its gonna be close"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980417586706969070) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-20T23:35Z 15.3K followers, 58.5K engagements


"Fun fact since selecting a lunar lander in 2021 NASA here's how much has spent on the X elements: Capsule + Rocket which began dev in 2006 and 2011 respectively: $14.6B X separate HLS landers selected in 2021 and 2023 respectively: $7.3B"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980686649303658906) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T17:24Z 15.3K followers, 17.8K engagements


"This is spending since 2021. Essentially when SLS Orion finished dev and X HLS's began dev"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980687539448193365) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T17:28Z 15.3K followers, 2307 engagements


"Who should lead NASA Astronaut with life long interest in space or person who wants to shut down NASA Is this choice not obvious"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980721878034764092) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T19:44Z 15.3K followers, 18.1K engagements


"Legitimately what is the logic even a paper thin excuse as to why NASA would go under the Dept. of Transportation other than thats the agency Duffy heads and he wants it so gimme"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980741778124001469) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T21:03Z 15.3K followers, 11.6K engagements


"This second version is time to first succesful CREWED demo mission. So. lots of fuss about HLS recently for a bunch of nothing honestly"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981058900070703486) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T18:03Z 15.3K followers, 14.4K engagements


"The good news is after all of that long and costly development SLS Orion have sustainable cadence and per mission costs"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981087611297976334) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T19:57Z 15.3K followers, 1206 engagements


"@waschatchsquach I could put Orion separate but Im trying to be really kind to it and just say it started in 2011 with SLS instead of 2006. There were alot of changes for it around that time"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981092774188634537) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T20:18Z 15.3K followers, 1834 engagements


"NASA: "We need redunancy and competition everywhere its so important" NASA: "Only SLS can launch Orion" Lockheed: "Orion can launch on other rockets." Boeing: "I like money""  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1978871081520775373) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-16T17:10Z 15.3K followers, 8614 engagements


"Big news And I like opening this up. However: The framing of this as were going to allow BO to compete. We did that. BO did compete directly for this contract and lost. Frankly if NASA had actual funding they probably wouldve selected both from the get go"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980269375882981778) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-20T13:46Z 15.3K followers, 14.7K engagements


"This is one of the funniest spitter leaks of all time 🤣"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980642920018637022) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T14:30Z 15.3K followers, 23.3K engagements


"I'm supposed to believe Lockheed Martin can stand up a Lunar Lander (the most complex piece of artemis) from scratch in 2-4 years On what basis should I even entertain this notion And where is the $30B going to come from"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980680732830793808) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T17:01Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"When I made this meme like X months ago it was meant to feel schizophrenic. Now its just become reality. 😵💫"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980733004310856060) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T20:28Z 15.3K followers, 27.6K engagements


"Here's these timelines laid out on a calendar. Through in costs for fun"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981085748720709708) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T19:50Z 15.3K followers, 4883 engagements


"Decided to include costs for no reason whatsoever"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981085845441364451) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T19:50Z 15.3K followers, 13.5K engagements


"These numbers are inflation adjusted to 2025 (but in a way that benefits SLS its numbers are year over year adjusted the rest are total). It includes all Orion and GSE costs and no EUS costs. Also no X segment booster dev costs it inherited from Ares"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981086847624237366) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T19:54Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"@waschatchsquach But I did count 2006-2011 Orion costs it in the costs just because I had those numbers ready and didnt feel like going into my spreadsheet"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981093422397346141) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T20:20Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"@Scholtz1971 Not very much taxpayer money went directly to Falcon X. It was developed under CRS which was a $1.6B (2008) contract for development of Dragon Capsule and Falcon X and XX resupply missions. This is pennies compaired to the billions saved by NASA + Airforce thanks to F9. 1/2"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1979221684365283747) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-17T16:23Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"Legacy contractors Artemis development costs and time all numbers inflation adjusted: Lunar Capsule Orion: $28.4B ($19.8B over / 330%) XX yrs (5 yrs over) Lunar Rocket SLS: $27.4B ($13B over / 190%) XX yrs (5 yrs over) GSE for SLS Orion: $6.6B ($3.7B over / 227%)"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980680730146410775) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T17:00Z 15.3K followers, 1217 engagements


"I don't want a less capable lander that will certainly be delayed until after our better sustainable landers that we are already paying 1/10th the price for"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980680734089134272) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T17:01Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"Just wow. Incredible views. But even more incredible it seems almost certain that the the fuel tanks were burnt completely through due to the removed tiles. And Starship just survives all the way and performs a pinpoint landing with HOLES IN ITS TANKS"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1978190000798757159) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-14T20:03Z 15.3K followers, 35K engagements


"Super Heavy Man (2025)"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1978647835806425319) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-16T02:23Z 15.3K followers, 2650 engagements


"@iallergicspace And whats crazy is these numbers stop at 2022 which is actually unfairly helping both Orion and SLS because they are still getting billions of years and doing dev. Orion got additional money to add the ability to dock which was "out of scope". And SLS is getting EUS"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980681654440968544) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T17:04Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"@eager_space Yes very important. People get confused because we say theyre going to the moon when in reality the lander is doing much much more than SLS Orion while being required to be sustainable cheap having 1/10th the funding and 1/3rd the time. Heres an infographic I made"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980793353001156922) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T00:28Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"@StarbaseRR @kmh @_FrankyPi Even the paper he's siting doesn't support his side. Average time to launch (of all projects not big ones like a human lunar lander lol) is XX months. HLS was selected April 2021 (lawsuit delay till Nov). XX months from April 2021 is Dec 2028. July 2029 if you count from Nov"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981042832145068195) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T16:59Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"Dont talk to me till Ive had my RP-1 🤪"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980266900148953498) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-20T13:36Z 15.3K followers, 49.1K engagements


"Reading too deep into this tweet: I agree its likely Starship is ready before an Mk1 architecture. But the scond part I have a lot of thoughts: I'm very negative on SLS but if he is talking about the first Artemis landing what benifit would there be to not using SLS Orion 🧵"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980673150246625478) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T16:30Z 15.3K followers, 6891 engagements


"This 2011 estimate is so insanely close to accurate. Nearly every number predicted is within rounding error of what happened"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980681143650484447) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T17:02Z 15.3K followers, 9857 engagements


"Cant wait for the Department of Transportations successor to the James Webb Space Telescope 🔥"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980787084861534573) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T00:03Z 15.3K followers, 7689 engagements


"The engineering of my super heavy cup rivals the real thing at this point"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980820266315120740) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T02:15Z 15.3K followers, 1861 engagements


"Let's analyze HLS development timeline compared to other Human Spaceflight Programs at NASA. Here's X infographics that compare HLS to Commercial Crew SLS and the GAO average of NASA program dev times. X versions this first one is time to first succesful uncrewed demo"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981058896879095842) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T18:03Z 15.3K followers, 266.1K engagements


"Moon landing in just X launches: In this thread Ill show how I believe its possible to perform an Artemis landing mission on the lunar southpole using X launches. A Blue Moon MK1 launched on Starship and Orion on SLS. Heres the mission plan keep reading for the math 🧵"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1975641668285309066) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-07T19:17Z 15.3K followers, 111.2K engagements


"Let me guess 500th reflight tweet is already in your drafts"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1978857373084065855) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-16T16:15Z 15.3K followers, 14.9K engagements


"Why are there only X types of starship fans 😭 Type 1: Next year I hope V3 can make X successful flight that way the can do a Starlink mission in 2027 Type 2: I think bare minimum starship should needs XXX flights HLS demo and a few mars shots next year 🥀"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1979312403054735867) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-17T22:23Z 15.3K followers, 5726 engagements


"The Orion program spent more than the entire HLS contract to SpaceX by 2008"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981124090389025041) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T22:22Z 15.3K followers, 11.4K engagements


"Waiting any day for that Starlink impact death 🤦♂ For people interested in space these posts are easy to laugh at and deserve ridicule. Its easy to forget that if you dont know about space these questions stem from rational concern so we have to also explain politely"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1977037267815612699) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-11T15:43Z 15.3K followers, 16.8K engagements


"Its underrated how much Falcon X is *NOT* just a Starlink launcher. In 2024 it launched XX non-Starlink missions. Thats a mission every X days. This year so far XX non-Starlink. Also every X days. Insane and often forgotten"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1978853822664438192) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-16T16:01Z 15.3K followers, 51.9K engagements


"@Scholtz1971 Not to mention of course the other value provided. CRS saved SpaceX which now dominates the global industry. And Falcon X is currently the only vehicle that can resupply ISS and of course our only way to fly humans"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1979222132308562236) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-17T16:25Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"Ok this seems like good confirmation I was offline during the drama. So do we think this means just an ill-timed loss of signal or Stage X engine shutdown early but it was survivable Do starlink flights still do the short raise burn Could that make up an early cutoff"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980015867724206168) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-19T20:59Z 15.3K followers, 14.8K engagements


"Can someone find me the most negative thing NASA has officially said about Starliner X years and counting later than SpaceX Parachute + Tape issue Failed OFT-1 and CFT with same issue leading to SpaceX returning crew. But SpaceX was called out publically by Jim Bridenstine"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980272384289509720) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-20T13:58Z 15.3K followers, 30.6K engagements


"@devDanaher Very soon Stay tuned"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980291711063724532) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-20T15:15Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"@FSlazer That is kind of true. SpaceX said they could meet 2024 as did Dynetics and Blue Origin and NASA. But it was always a lie all parties knew they were lying and continued to lie because they had to to get funding at all. Something Ive called out as it only adds confusion"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980298419316081108) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-20T15:41Z 15.3K followers, 1403 engagements


"Bruh we goin to the moon 😭 (Ignore my vote 😈)"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980314894701580408) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-20T16:47Z 15.3K followers, 5311 engagements


"This. Theres a time for being all silent and cool but its just simply overstayed its welcome in the current climate with SpaceX HLS. Do a media call do an update a reveal a blog post something. Weve seen how animated to get over frequency and launch site red tape"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980416527427072121) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-20T23:31Z 15.3K followers, 12.7K engagements


"If he means eventually then sure. But its not like SLS is going to be cancelled pre-Flight X. So its getting paid for why not use it and have less starship flights There is a chance (due to lander readiness) that landing moves to flight X of SLS then there is reason not to"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980673152557465629) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T16:30Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"@iallergicspace There has been an additional $13.5B spent on SLS Orion EUS since 2022 and more on ground systems I can't find right now"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980683304467632371) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-21T17:11Z 15.3K followers, XXX engagements


"I wonder what which sensors the Department of Transportation will select for the next probe the Department of Transportation builds for studying the Jovian moons 🤔 This is a rational question which makes sense"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1980787918857015444) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T00:06Z 15.3K followers, 1478 engagements


"@BeastsInJars @eager_space For Orion yes and I probably shouldve counted it since Im showing Orion on the graphic but the Graphic is about the work that SLS does. Orion is its payload which yes does .9 km/s total. But I was comparing SLS vs Starship / New Glenn"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981007492583969176) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T14:39Z 15.3K followers, XX engagements


"@StarbaseRR @kmh @_FrankyPi He's confused because inflation adjussted SLS + Orion have actually cost $60B total thus far"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981089401997520972) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-22T20:04Z 15.3K followers, XX engagements


"@_FrankyPi @ChiFredericks @LunarCaveman Orion has a start point both make sense. I think enough changed in the transition that starting in Sept 2011 is fair. And that pre-work helps it out in these comparisons. The giant asterisk would be Orion is shown overly positive and unfair to the rest"  
[X Link](https://x.com/KenKirtland17/status/1981378487416914055) [@KenKirtland17](/creator/x/KenKirtland17) 2025-10-23T15:13Z 15.3K followers, XX engagements