Woman loses NASA job after profane Twitter attack on writer Homer Hickam

Huntsville author Homer Hickam, a retired NASA engineer, wrote his memoir "Rocket Boys" i 1998. (AL.com/File Photo)

A woman blew up her NASA internship before it launched when she and her friends launched a profanity-charged Twitter attack on Alabama author Homer Hickam, but Hickam says he's not mad and will try to help her.

The fuss started when the woman identified as Naomi H. recently told the world on Twitter, "EVERYONE SHUT THE F*** UP. I GOT ACCEPTED FOR A NASA INTERNSHIP."

Hickam says someone called that to his attention, and he thought Naomi might be heading for trouble using F*** and NASA in the same post. As a Vietnam vet, Hickam said the F-word didn't bother him.

"Language," Hickam responded on Twitter.

That didn't go over well with Naomi, who responded to Hickam with a post that started with "suck" and ended with "I'm working for NASA."

"And I'm on the National Space Council that oversees NASA," Hickam replied. The author of "Rocket Boys" is on the council after a career at NASA as an engineer and his current career as a best-selling author and space advocate.

Naomi was reportedly notified after her second post that the internship was gone, and some people online blamed Hickam in a furious response online. Hickam by then had deleted his comments and blocked "all concerned."

Hickam says he "had nothing to do with" Naomi losing her internship, "nor could I since I do not hire and fire at the agency." Hickam said the #NASA hashtag Naomi's friends used in their posts alerted the agency after his own comments had been deleted.

Hickam said Naomi sent him an "unnecessary apology, which I heartily accepted and returned with my own."

He's looked at Naomi's resume, Hickam said, and he believes she deserves a job in the space industry. "I'm doing all I can to secure her one that will be better than the one she lost," he said.

NASA has had no comment on the issue, although Hickam said the space agency told him there is no black mark on Naomi's record and she can reapply. Naomi's Twitter account is now reportedly set to "private."

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