NASA Wants 40 Social Media Users To Attend SpaceX's Next Launch

An anonymous reader quotes NASA.gov: Social media users are invited to register to attend the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This launch, currently targeted for late June, will be the next commercial cargo resupply services mission to the International Space Station... A maximum of 40 social media users will be selected to attend this two-day event, and will be given access similar to news media.
Besides viewing and photographing the launch, the 40 selected participants will also:

• Tour NASA facilities at Kennedy Space Center

• Speak with representatives from NASA and SpaceX

• Speak with researchers about investigations heading to the orbiting microgravity laboratory

• Meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media

Applications must be received by Wednesday at noon EDT.

A good idea

[PhantomHarlock]

A long time ago I was invited as an enthusiast website owner to attend the North American unveiling of the Subaru WRX. This was very early days for internet influence and they had a group of about six of us. It was a very good move on Subaru's part, as we were able to reach the young enthusiast community in a way that traditional magazines could not. We were not paid beyond expenses and we were not asked to be shills or pitch men, we were to report honestly on our opinions of the car. I spoke to someone who went with us recently and most of that group is still in touch with each other today.

This reminds me of Subaru's outreach efforts; NASA is recognizing that social media users can be a 'man on the street' presence to document the event in a way that compliments professional journalism.

Re:

[CrimsonAvenger]

in a way that compliments professional journalism.

Complements. Compliments means something different.

Re:

[mrbester]

You could argue it was, ironically, the correct spelling. What gets passed off as journalism on social media puts professional journalism in a more positive light, thus it is complimentary.

Easy selection criterion

[russotto]

They could make it easy on themselves and just take everyone on Google Plus.

Re:Easy selection criterion

[K. S. Kyosuke]

Where would they get the remaining 37 participants?

Re:

[CanadianMacFan]

The non-robots left on Twitter?

Re:

[DCFusor]

While that IS funny, you might not know if you know people or already have them as contacts, the free video-call is still going strong - works a LOT better than skype and is free. Which is probably why Google took out the tools for easy discover of new contacts - they aren't making any money on it...
.

So if you were to sign up now you'd see nada...heh, it's almost like stealth for those in the know.

Unnecessary

[petes_PoV]

Since when has a blogger (or a journalist, for that matter) ever needed knowledge, experience or a reliable source in order to post something about a subject?

Why?

[nospam007]

Social Media users are stupid fucks, just see the orange moron in chief, they have no idea about rocket science, or any other science.

Whats the

[AHuxley]

degree of separation from a really smart person got into the USA under the cover of Operation Paperclip?