Social Media Puts Space Travel At Your Fingertips

That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.  ~ Neil Armstrong

That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.We live in a digital connected world and it’s no wonder we can travel to space via social media.  As Amy-Mae Elliot of Mashable Tech points out, there are a variety of ways to explore space online, from space agencies (NASA for one), observatories (like the Hubble Telescope), numerous Facebook and Twitter accounts (like the Curiosity Mars Rover and the International Space Station), videos (Science Channel on YouTube for another), to astronomical apps (like NASA’s for iPhone).

Social media provides a way for space enthusiasts to connect, notes NASA’s Veronica McGregor.  This is not the first time NASA has employed social media to highlight a space mission.  As she reported to Dorrine Mendoza of CNN, the Phoenix Mars Lander’s Twitter account was the fifth most followed in 2008.  Interest in space abounds; the Mars Curiosity’s landing tweet at 1:32 am EST on August 6th was retweeted 70,000 times around the world.  Moreover, Linda Holmes of NPR observes Curiosity on Twitter has found its voice, the right mix of science and engagement.

After all, the sky’s the limit for space exploration, and we owe a debt of gratitude to the pioneers of space who make it all possible.  Recently we lost one of the greats Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.  Twitterers can post comments and photos using the hashtag #WinkAtTheMoon to honor the acclaimed astronaut of the Gemini and Apollo space missions.  We look forward to the launch of the Webb Telescope and all future giant leaps of space.

So, how do you follow your curiosity about space?  What’s your favorite extraterrestrial pursuit?  Share your thoughts on exploring space with social media.

Vanaja R.

 

Copyright © 2012 My Marketing Nirvana.  All rights reserved in all media.

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Social Media Champions of the London 2012 Olympic Games

All the world’s a stage.  ~ William Shakespeare

London 2012 Olympic GamesThree cheers for the games of the 30th Olympiad!  From start to finish, the Olympics captured our hearts and social media gave us a front row seat to the action as it unfolded.  In the realm of Twitter, the opening and closing ceremonies reigned supreme.  Who could forget the entrance of Queen Elizabeth with James Bond to kick off London 2012?  Overall, the Spice Girls closing ceremonies performance took top honors with 116,000 TPM (Tweets per minute).

We witnessed many memorable and history making moments throughout the Games; Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian and Gabby Douglas winning the gymnastics individual all-around, to name but a few.  Michael and Gabby showed us that Olympic success can carry over to social media wins.  Gaining an additional one million Twitter followers, Michael entered the pantheon of greats, based on Reuters reporting of data provided by social media monitor Starcount.  Not to be outdone, Gabby has been designated the leading up and comer by marketing firm Wildfire, based on the most fans by percentage growth on Facebook since July 27.

The Olympics is a global stage affording each athlete and event its own moment to shine.  CNN deemed Usain Bolt as the Social Media Olympic gold medalist of 2012.  Usain achieved this feat by being the most talked about athlete on Facebook and Twitter.  No doubt having a prominent Facebook and Twitter presence can translate into a branding bonanza notes Nick Thain, CEO of Sports New Media, with fan engagement being a key distinguishing factor.  Reflecting the global audience of the Games, soccer scored as the most talked about sport with over 5 million Tweets.

So, how did you watch the 30th Olympiad?  Who was your favorite Olympic athlete?  Share your thoughts on the most engaging moments of London 2012.

Vanaja R.

Copyright © 2012 My Marketing Nirvana.  All rights reserved in all media.