“What we are learning
in space is going to help
us explore the solar
system. The research
we are doing on the
station is making life
better on Earth. We are
studying our planet
24 hours a day.”
- @Astro_Ron
together, it’s an amazing feat of
engineering and science.”
The ISS Science Social was just
the first such NASA event during
D.C.’s Social Media Week. The
other was a Google+ Hangout,
which allowed attendees to log in
to a panel discussion and “hang
out” with astronauts Ron Garan and
Nicole Stott.
According to NASA, the three
primary goals of the ISS are
educating the children of today
to be the leaders and space
explorers of tomorrow; returning
the knowledge gained in space
research for the benefit of society;
and
enabling
future
space
exploration missions. What is so
special about these social media
events is that they mirror the very
www.RocketSTEM.org
mission of the space station itself.
Ron Garan, who has more than
three million followers on Google+
and 95,000 followers on Twitter,
is using social media to change
the face of NASA. The founder of
Fragile Oasis said, “The research we
are doing on the station is making
life better on Earth. We are studying
our planet 24 hours a day. The view
of Earth from space really gives the
sense that the planet is a living,
breathing organism. And I have
a responsibility and an obligation
to share my experience of living
in space with as many people as
I can. Being an astronaut, we are
basically ambassadors of humanity.
What we are learning in space now
is going to help us explore the solar
system tomorrow.”
It may be a while before NASA puts out a
call for farmers to produce space crops (top
right), but that’s not to say that astronauts
may not one day be growing a few of their
own food stuffs aboard the International
Space Station.
Photo: NASA
Astronaut Ron Garan (top left) poses while
taking photos of Earth from within the ESAbuilt Cupola aboard the ISS.
Photo: NASA
NASA Social attendees (bottom) pose for a
group photograph following a NASA Social
exploring science on the ISS on Feb. 20.
Photo: NASA/Carla Cioffi
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