How to become a spacetweep?

Introduction to the use of social media in the global space community

by @timmermansr - presented at SpaceUp Paris - 25 May 2013

Social Media are a waste of time!

Real versus virtual friends?

Real versus virtual friends?Social media are about

SOCIAL(more than about MEDIA)

Virtual friends ARE real friends!

Why use Social Media for Space?

• To be part of a worldwide space community• To share your excitement with new friends

and

• To help the space industry in your country• To help the space industry worldwide

Community by Twitter…or Facebook

…or YouTube

…or Flickr…or FourSquare

…or all of the above!…or Google+

Each tool has its specific purpose.Just try out what works best for you.

The Space Community Needs You!

we need to tell the world about this…

How to become a spacetweep?

• Be social – we are real people!

• Create a free Twitter account

• Become active!

Twitter takes time…

from denial:“Twitter is sooo stupid”

to addiction:“I love you tweeps!”

http://www.andfaraway.net/blog/2010/06/21/the-four-stages-of-getting-twitter/

How to start with Twitter?

• Beginners tips – your account:

– Select a good twitter name - you are a person– Fill out your real bio - you are a person– Fill out your real location - you are a person– Use a good avatar picture – look like yourself– Do not lock your account – we can be trusted

Your Twitter bio

• Bad… • Good…

How to start with Twitter?

• Beginners tips - tweeting:

– Follow a few spacetweeps (see list below)– Just listen for a few weeks– Participate in conversation with friends– Try a few RT’s (retweets)– Try a few DM’s (direct messages)– Try a few @ replies– Be nice, just as IRL – you are a person!

What about community?

• Once you become part of the online space community, all kinds of cool things happen…

• You will find that your virtual friends are real friends when you join spacetweeps events…

• Warning: Social media may change your life!

#NASASocialSocial media changed my life…

ESA/DLR #SpaceTweetup

This is YOUR community!

#SpaceUp Europe

Meet us!

ESA/DLR #ILATweetup

You will visit places you always thought could not be visited…

#AlexTweetup - #SamanthaTweetup

Social media bring you to remote places!

#AuroraTweetup

You will stay warm by excitement and friendship

Use of hashtags: #

• Hashtags highlight a topic, e.g. #SpaceUp

• Use to find new people to follow• Use to track a topic• Use to track an event

Hashtags help event organizers measure the impact of the community

Who to follow?

• Your real life friends• Worldwide #spacetweeps• Space communities like • Space agencies• Space industry • Space journalists• Astronauts!

Famous Spacetweeps• @schierholz • @ageekmom• @andreasschepers• @danielscuka• @starlingLX• @SpaceKate• @Brigitte_Ba• @justbe74• @travelholic• @astVintageSpace• @Jane_MacArthur

• @imperator_jarek• @ericarolfe• @elakdawalla• @nickastronomer• @astroN8• @libbydoodle• @flyingjenny• @badastronomer• @martincco• @rocketman528• @pillownaut

Agencies and industry

• @NASA• @ESA• @esaoperations• @esascience• @esa_EO• @DLR_en• @CNES_France• @federalspace• @ULALaunch

• @SpaceX• @oewf• @JAXA_en• @OrbitalSciences• @InsideKSC• @csa_asc• @HEspace• @ISUnet• @NEOShieldTeam

Communities and astronauts• @NASAsocial• @SpaceTweetup• @SpaceUnites• @SpaceUpConf• @SpaceUpEU• @TweetupSpace• @SpaceUpParis• @SGAC• @worldspaceweek

• @AstroSamantha• @Astro_Luca• @Thomas_Astro• @Astro_TimPeake• @Astro_Alex• @Astro_Andreas• @Astro_Mike• @Cmdr_Hadfield• @Astro_Jfrancois

Thank you!See you on Twitter!

@timmermansr@SpaceUpEU

@WorldSpaceWeek