Social media users are invited to register to attend the launch of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, a mission to touch the Sun. Liftoff on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is targeted for no earlier than July 31, 2018.
The historic Parker Solar Probe will revolutionize our understanding of the Sun, where changing conditions can propagate out into the solar system, affecting Earth and other worlds. The spacecraft will travel through the Sun’s atmosphere, closer to the surface than any spacecraft before it, facing brutal heat and radiation conditions — and ultimately providing humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star.
If your passion is to communicate and engage the world via social media, then this is the event for you! Seize the opportunity to be on the front line to blog, tweet and Instagram everything about the Parker Solar Probe mission.
A maximum of 50 social media users will be selected to attend this three-day event Aug. 9-11, 2018, and will be given access similar to news media.
NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to:
- View a launch of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket
- Tour NASA facilities at Kennedy Space Center
- Learn how NASA studies the Sun and its effects throughout the solar system
- Speak with representatives from NASA, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab and the United Launch Alliance
- View and take photographs of ULA’s Delta IV Heavy at Space Launch Complex 37
- Meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media
NASA Social registration for the Parker Solar Probe launch opens on this page on June 1, 2018, and the deadline to apply is June 10, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. All social applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Do I need to have a social media account to register?
Yes. This event is designed for people who:
- Actively use multiple social networking platforms and tools to disseminate information to a unique audience.
- Regularly produce new content that features multimedia elements.
- Have the potential to reach a large number of people using digital platforms.
- Reach a unique audience, separate and distinctive from traditional news media and/or NASA audiences.
- Must have an established history of posting content on social media platforms.
- Have previous postings that are highly visible, respected and widely recognized.
Users on all social networks are encouraged to use the hashtag #NASASocial and #SolarProbe. Updates and information about the event will be shared on Twitter via @NASASocial, @NASASun, and @NASAKennedy, and through posts to Facebook and Instagram.
How do I register?
Registration for this event opens June 1, 2018, and closes at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 10, 2018. Registration is for one person only (you) and is non-transferable. Each individual wishing to attend must register separately. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Can I register if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Because of the security deadlines, registration is limited to U.S. citizens. If you have a valid permanent resident card, you will be processed as a U.S. citizen.
When will I know if I am selected?
After registrations have been received and processed, an email with confirmation information and additional instructions will be sent to those selected. We expect to send notifications no later than June 29, 2018.
What are NASA Social credentials?
All social applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Those chosen must prove through the registration process they meet specific engagement criteria.
If you do not make the registration list for this NASA Social, you still can attend the launch offsite and participate in the conversation online. Find out about ways to experience a launch at https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/viewing.html.
What are the registration requirements?
Registration indicates your intent to travel to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and attend the three-day event in person. You are responsible for your own expenses for travel, accommodation, food and other amenities.
Some events and participants scheduled to appear at the event are subject to change without notice. NASA is not responsible for loss or damage incurred as a result of attending. NASA, moreover, is not responsible for loss or damage incurred if the event is cancelled with limited or no notice. Please plan accordingly.
Kennedy is a government facility. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter the secure areas.
IMPORTANT: To be admitted, you will need to provide two forms of unexpired government-issued identification; one must be a photo ID and match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. For a complete list of acceptable forms of ID, please visit: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/i-9_poster_acceptable_documents_2014_04_23.pdf?emrc=50f09c
All registrants must be at least 18 years old.
What if the launch date changes?
Hundreds of different factors can cause a scheduled launch date to change multiple times. The launch date will not be official until after the Flight Readiness Review. If the launch date changes prior to then, NASA may adjust the date of the NASA Social accordingly to coincide with the new target launch date. NASA will notify registrants of any changes by email.
If the launch is postponed, attendees will be invited to attend a later launch date. NASA cannot accommodate attendees for delays beyond 72 hours.
NASA Social attendees are responsible for any additional costs they incur related to any launch delay. We strongly encourage participants to make travel arrangements that are refundable and/or flexible.
Does registration for and/or attendance at the NASA Social qualify me for news media accreditation?
No, your registration and/or attendance does not qualify you for news media credentials at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, now or in the future.
What if I cannot come to the Kennedy Space Center?
If you cannot come to the Kennedy Space Center and attend in person, you should not register for the NASA Social. You can follow the conversation using the #NASASocial hashtag on Twitter. You can watch the launch on NASA Television, www.nasa.gov/live. NASA will provide regular launch and mission updates on @NASA, @NASASun and @NASAKennedy.
If you cannot make this NASA Social, don’t worry; NASA is planning many other Socials in the near future at various locations! Check back on https://www.nasa.gov/social for updates.