Go Behind the Scenes of Space Station Science
NASA will host a one-day event for 30 social media followers on May 22, 2013, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, home of Mission Control. The NASA Social will give guests an opportunity to learn more about the International Space Station, the scientific research conducted aboard, and the unique purpose-built facilities on the ground that enable this research. Participants will also have a chance to ask questions of space station management and scientists on the upcoming mission.
This offline visit to Johnson Space Center by our online social media followers will provide participants a behind-the-scenes look at the orbiting laboratory some 240 miles above Earth. The space station is the gateway to the rest of the universe, enabling important discoveries that benefit humanity and vastly increase our understanding of how humans can safely work, live and thrive in space for long periods.
NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to:
* Speak with science researchers whose work is enabled by the International Space Station
* Ask questions of the space station program manager and the associate program scientist during a
May 22 press conference about the upcoming Expedition 36 mission to the International Space Station
* Tour unique facilities, including:
– the Robonaut Laboratory
– the Mission Control Center
– the Astronaut Exercise Equipment Training Facility
* Learn about:
– Current scientific experiments underway aboard the space station and new experiments planned to launch in the future
– Commercial and educational research opportunities enabled by the station’s microgravity environment
– How researchers study the effects of a weightless environment on the human body to help protect astronauts for long-duration spaceflight missions in the future
– How the space station is being used to test groundbreaking, new technologies that will help astronauts safely reach new deep space destinations, including an asteroid and eventually Mars
* Meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media and members of NASA’s social media team
Registration opens on this page at noon EST on Friday, April 19 and closes at 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 23.
What is a NASA Social?
A NASA Social is an informal meeting of people who use social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Participants at this event will be provided a unique in-person experience with NASA, which they are encouraged to share with others through their favorite social network. Guests will have an opportunity to learn more about the science being done on board the station from the people helping make it possible. The guests will get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the research facilities and have the chance to talk to station researchers.
How do I register?
Registration opens at noon EDT on April 19, and closes at 5 p.m. on April 23. Thirty participants will be randomly selected from online registrations. Registration is for one person only (you) and is non-transferable.
Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list.
Do I need to have a social media account to register?
Yes. This event is designed for active social media users who follow NASA on Twitter (@ISS_Research, @NASA, @NASASocial), Facebook (NASA, International Space Station) or Google+ (NASA) . The goal of NASA Social is to allow people who regularly interact with each other via social networks to meet in person and discuss space exploration.
Users on all social networks are encouraged to use the hashtag #NASASocial. Updates and information about the event will be shared on Twitter via @ISS_Research and @NASASocial and via posts to Facebook and Google+.
What are the registration requirements?
Registration indicates your intent to travel to the Johnson Space Center in Houston and attend the one-day event in person. You are responsible for your own expenses for travel, accommodation, food and other amenities.
Some events and participants scheduled to appear at the event are subject to change without notice. NASA is not responsible for loss or damage incurred as a result of attending. NASA, moreover, is not responsible for loss or damage incurred if the event is cancelled with limited or no notice. Please plan accordingly.
The Johnson Space Center is a government facility. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter the secure areas. To be admitted, you will need to show two government-issued identifications (one with a photo) that match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. All registrants must be at least 18 years old.
Can I register if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Because portions of this event may take place in restricted areas, registration is limited to U.S. citizens. If you have a green card, you will be processed as a U.S. citizen. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter the secure areas. To be admitted, you will need to show two government-issued identifications (one with a photo) that match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. All registrants must be at least 18 years old.
Does my registration include a guest?
Because of space limitations, you may not bring a guest. Each registration provides a place for one person only (you) and is non-transferable. Each individual wishing to attend must register separately.
What if I cannot come to the Johnson Space Center?
If you cannot come to the Johnson Space Center to attend in person, you should not register for the NASA Social. You can follow the conversation using the #NASASocial hashtag on Twitter. NASA may broadcast a portion of the program on May 22. You may be able to watch portions of the NASA Social participation in the press conference on NASA TV.
If you cannot make this NASA Social, don’t despair; NASA is planning others in the near future at various locations. Check back on http://www.nasa.gov/social for updates.
When will I know if I am selected?
After registrations have been received and processed, an email with confirmation information and additional instructions will be sent to those selected and those on the waitlist. We expect to send notifications by April 30.
If you do not make the registration list for this NASA Social, you can still participate in the conversation online.
Does registration for and/or attendance at the NASA Social qualify me for media accreditation? Your NASA Social registration and/or attendance does not qualify you for news media credentials at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, now or in the future.
Have a question not answered here? Need more information? Help is available by sending an email to hq-social@nasa.gov.
