Are you passionate about all things space, satellites and social media? Then this is the event for you!
Don’t miss this behind the scenes opportunity to snap, post, tweet and share everything about the launch of NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The TESS mission is NASA’s next planet hunter. Following on from the successful Kepler mission, TESS will scan nearly the entire sky and is expected to find thousands of new planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets. It will identify a diverse array of worlds, from Earth-sized to giant planets, orbiting a wide range of stars. TESS will detect small planets with bright host stars in the solar neighborhood, so that future telescopes can make detailed observations of these planets to help determine what they’re made of, and look for signatures in their atmosphere that could support life.
We are inviting social media users from around the United States to apply for credentials to join us for the TESS Launch Social on April 15-16 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Don’t miss your chance to get a special insider’s look at the launch and share it with the world!
As a NASA Social participant, you will have the opportunity to:
- Experience the launch
- Tour special locations around the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
- Hear from NASA and SpaceX experts at a pre-launch briefing
- Speak with the scientists and engineers that made TESS and its instruments a reality
- And more!
Not sure what TESS is? Click here to learn more about the mission!
Social media accreditation for the NASA Social event will open on Friday, March 9. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 18. All social media accreditation applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Do I need to have a social media account to register?
Yes. This event is designed for people who:
- Actively use multiple social networking platforms and tools to disseminate information to a unique audience.
- Regularly produce new content that features multimedia elements.
- Have the potential to reach a large number of people using digital platforms.
- Reach a unique audience, separate and distinctive from traditional news media and/or NASA audiences.
- Must have an established history of posting content on social media platforms.
- Have previous postings that are highly visible, respected and widely recognized.
Users on all social networks are encouraged to use the hashtag #NASASocial. Updates and information about the event will be shared on Twitter via @NASASocial, and via posts to NASA’S Facebook and Google+ pages.
How do I register?
Registration for this event opens Friday, March 9 and closes at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 18. Registration is for one person only (you) and is non-transferable. Each individual wishing to attend must register separately. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Can I register if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Because of the security deadlines, registration is limited to U.S. citizens. If you have a valid permanent resident card, you will be processed as a U.S. citizen.
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 no later than March 23.
What are NASA Social media credentials?
Social media credentials give users a chance to apply for the same access as journalists in an effort to align the access and experience of social media representatives with those of traditional media. People who actively collect, report, analyze and disseminate news on social networking platforms are encouraged to apply for media credentials. Selection is not random. All social media accreditation applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Those chosen must prove through the registration process they meet specific engagement criteria.
If you do not make the registration list for this NASA Social, you still can attend the launch and participate in the conversation online. Find out about ways to experience a launch at https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/viewing.html.
What are the registration requirements?
Registration indicates your intent to travel to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and attend the two-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 canceled with limited or no notice. Please plan accordingly.
Kennedy is a government facility. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter the secure areas. IMPORTANT: To be admitted, you will need to provide two forms of unexpired government-issued identification; one must be a photo ID and match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. For a complete list of acceptable forms of ID, please visit: Acceptable I-9 Documentation
All registrants must be at least 18 years old.
What if the spacecraft’s launch date changes?
Hundreds of different factors can cause a scheduled launch date to change multiple times. The launch date will not be official until after the Flight Readiness Review. If the launch date changes prior to then, NASA may adjust the date of the NASA Social accordingly to coincide with the new target launch date. NASA will notify registrants of any changes by email.
If the launch is postponed, attendees will be invited to attend a later launch date. NASA cannot accommodate attendees for delays beyond 72 hours.
NASA Social attendees are responsible for any additional costs they incur related to any launch delay. We strongly encourage participants to make travel arrangements that are refundable and/or flexible.
Does registration for and/or attendance at the NASA Social qualify me for media accreditation?
No, your registration and/or attendance does not qualify you for news media credentials at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, now or in the future.
What if I cannot come to the Kennedy Space Center?
If you cannot come to the Kennedy Space Center and attend in person, you should not register for the NASA Social. You can follow the conversation using #TESS and #NASASocial hashtags on Twitter. You can watch the launch on April 16 on NASA Television, or on our website at nasa.gov/live. NASA will provide regular launch and mission updates on Twitter at @NASA, @NASASocial, @NASAKennedy, @NASA_LSP and @SpaceX.
If you cannot make this NASA Social, don’t despair; NASA is planning others in the near future at various locations. Check back on https://www.nasa.gov/social for updates. Also, to learn about future opportunities, please sign up at this link for the latest NASA Social announcements: https://lists.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/nasa-social-announce