This morning the Space Shuttle Atlantis launched for what is the final mission to the Hubble Telescope (STS-125). With that as the backdrop I wanted to talk about another frontier that NASA is treading in. In June astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander Mark Polansky will be heading to the International Space Station for mission STS-127. The mission will be to deliver and install the final two components of the Japanese Experiment Module. As part of that Mark will be updating the mission live over twitter. He is also putting out an open call for questions to be answered from space. You can view the video below.
You can follow Mark on Twitter at @Astro_127. Yea I know, yet another article hyping twitter, blah, blah blah. That’s not what it’s about though! This is about hyping NASA! When was the last time you were able to speak to an astronaut in space and have him answer your questions? Um, never I think is the right answer. NASA is doing a great job of giving exposure to itself just by broadcasting what it is doing. Now is a great time to be a nerdy science kid, (or a nerdy adult for that matter). Over and out!
Updated – 5/23
This week @Astro_Mike was getting a lot of press from being the first person to tweet from space. Stealing the thunder of Mark Polansky (@Astro_127). @Astro_Mike (or Mike Massimino) was credited for being the 1st person to tweet from space this week when he apparently tweeted, “From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!”
But apparently he was not actually tweeting. He was emailing messages back to the Space Center which were then updated on his account by someone else. You can read more about it here at the “Orlando Sentinel”. On the NASA twitter feed they confirm the story.
I have to say I am not all that dissapointed. I think the fact that agencies are trying to communicate and get people involved and engaged is great. And it doesn’t have to be thru the latest social media fad to be exciting. Plus that still gives @Astro_127 a chance to be the 1st!
