posted 10-25-2014 10:36 AM               

NASA Hosts First Agency-wide Social Media Event for Orion's First Flight Test

NASA invites social media followers to apply for credentials to get a preview of the Orion spacecraft’s first flight test during NASA Social events Dec. 3 at each of its 10 centers.

Orion will launch on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 7:05 a.m. EST Dec. 4.

NASA Socials are in-person events for people who engage with the agency through social media networks. Events will be held simultaneously at NASA centers including: Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California; Glenn Research Center in Cleveland; Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; Johnson Space Center in Houston; Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia; Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama; Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; and, Armstrong Flight Research Center, which is hosting a joint event with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

Each center will be connected via a multi-center NASA Television simulcast with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during its event, which was previously announced.

Along with a discussion on Orion and NASA’s plan to send humans to Mars, participants will get a unique behind the scenes look at the diverse work of the agency through center tours and presentations by scientists, engineers and managers. The events also will provide guests the opportunity to interact with fellow social media users, space enthusiasts and members of NASA's social media team.

Registration for these NASA Socials opened at 5 p.m. EDT Friday, Oct. 24, and closes at 5 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 2. People may register for NASA Socials at multiple locations but will be chosen only for one event. All social media accreditation applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and the number of attendance slots varies by center.