Mission update May 2, 2018 — The ICON launch is now scheduled for June 14, 2018, U.S. time (June 15 local time). Accordingly, we have rescheduled this event for June 13, 2018. Participants who previously applied have been notified and should check their email. The mission launches on an Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket, flown on an L-1011 aircraft, from the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
Social media users are invited to apply for credentials to attend the pre-launch media briefing at the University of California, Berkeley, for NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, currently targeted for Thursday, December 7. ICON is scheduled to launch on an Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket from the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean at 4:15 a.m. local time (9:15 a.m. PST) on Friday, December 8.
If your passion is to communicate and engage the world via social media, then this is the event for you! Seize the opportunity to be on the front line to blog, tweet or Instagram everything about NASA’s upcoming mission to study our interface to space. ICON will explore Earth’s upper atmosphere on the edge of space, where terrestrial weather from below and space weather from above meet, influencing satellites and communications signals in this region.
A maximum of 25 active social media users will be selected to attend the one-day event December 7, 2017. Attendees will attend pre-launch news briefings given to traditional media, as well as attend behind-the-scenes tours of the facility with additional speakers.
NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to:
- Attend the pre-launch briefing for NASA’s ICON Mission
- Tour Space Sciences Laboratory facilities at UC Berkeley
- Speak with representatives from NASA
- Meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media
- Meet members of NASA’s social media team
NASA Social registration for the NASA ICON media briefing opens on Oct. 23, and the deadline to apply is Oct. 29 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. 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 and #NASAICON. Updates and information about the event will be shared on Twitter via @NASASocial and @NASASun, and via posts to Facebook and Google+.
How do I register?
Registration for this event opens on Oct. 23 and closes on Oct. 29 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. 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?
Yes. International social media users without U.S. citizenship may apply. Those who are selected are required to submit full legal name, date of birth, nationality and passport number. To be admitted, you will need to show two government-issued identifications (one must be your passport) that match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. All registrants must be at least 18 years old.
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.
What are NASA Social media credentials?
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 can still watch the launch on NASA TV and participate in the conversation online. Get more information at nasa.gov/icon and nasa.gov/live.
What are the registration requirements?
Registration indicates your intent to travel to the University of California, Berkeley, 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 or UC Berkeley is not responsible for loss or damage incurred as a result of attending. NASA and UC Berkeley, moreover, is not responsible for loss or damage incurred if the event is cancelled with limited or no notice. Please plan accordingly.
IMPORTANT: To be admitted, you will need to provide one form of unexpired government-issued identification; it must be a photo ID and match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. For example: a U.S. passport, passport card, or permanent resident card; a state-issued driver’s license or ID card. Note that foreign nationals additionally need to provide their passport.
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 pre-launch briefing and the NASA Social accordingly to coincide with the new target launch date. NASA will notify registrants of any changes by email.
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.
What if I cannot come to the event?
If you cannot come to event and attend in person, you should not register for the NASA Social. You can follow the conversation using the #NASASocial hashtag on Twitter. You can watch the pre-launch media briefing and launch on NASA Television at www.nasa.gov/live
NASA will provide regular launch and mission updates on @NASA and @NASASun.
If you cannot make this NASA Social, don’t worry; NASA is planning many other Socials in the near future at various locations! Check back on https://www.nasa.gov/social for updates.