NASA's Big 'Tweet-up'

Space flight is one human endeavor that has happened completely within the lifespan of our generation, and inspired us in many ways.  And the Internet has made it possible for us to have an even more personal relationship with space exploration. One of the first things I ever did on the Internet was to download images from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Now, NASA is using the Internet to make the experience even more personal. If you've got a Twitter account, you've got a shot at a once-in-a-lifetime experience—the space agency is holding a "Tweetup" for the final launch of the space shuttle Discovery, and will pick 150 NASA Twitter "followers" to attend.

NASA has been using Twitter to share information with the public about programs for some time. In fact, the agency was nominated for a "Shorty" award, which recognize the best use of real-time content on Twitter and other services, for its use of Twitter to reach out to citizens. And the agency has held several "Tweetups"—gatherings of Twitter users—in the past, including two previous shuttle launches.

This Tweetup will occur October 31 and November 1 at Kennedy Space Center. The lucky 150 chosen @NASA followers will get the opportunity to tour the center, view the shuttle launch and speak with NASA managers, astronauts, shuttle technicians and engineers—and, of course, "tweet" about it.

The attending "tweeps" will be selected at random from those who register on the NASA site between noon Eastern time on August 24 and noon on August 25. Of course, if you're selected, you'll have to get yourself to Florida, and there's only one invitation per "tweep".  But you can always share the experience with your family and friends by tweeting about it.