Are you a digital creator, citizen journalist or active on social media? Do you have an idea for a unique way to share the story of the West Coast’s first interplanetary rocket launch? Apply now to attend launch activities for NASA’s InSight mission, May 3-5, at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, California.
InSight’s launch begins a six-month journey to Mars, where the lander will deploy the first seismometer to the surface of another planet. By measuring marsquakes, InSight will map the deep interior of Mars to help us better understand how rocky planets, including Earth, are formed.
NASA will grant up to 75 NASA Social credentials which give access similar to news media. Participants will go behind the scenes, meet mission personnel and share their experiences online.
NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to:
- Witness the first interplanetary launch from the West Coast of the United States
- Speak with InSight mission scientists and engineers
- Participate in a special televised pre-launch briefing
- View and take photographs of the Atlas V-401 rocket on the launch pad
- Tour facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base
- Interact with NASA social media managers and fellow space enthusiasts
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, manages InSight for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. InSight is part of NASA’s Discovery Program, managed by the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The InSight spacecraft, including cruise stage and lander, was built and tested by Lockheed Martin Space in Denver. A number of European partners, including France’s Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), are supporting the InSight mission.
For more information on InSight, visit: https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/
Social media accreditation for the InSight Launch NASA Social will open on this page on Monday, March 12. The deadline to apply is 9:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 20. All social media accreditation 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’s existing fan base.
- 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. Updates and information about the event will be shared on Twitter by @NASASocial, @NASAInSight and @NASAJPL; Facebook by @NASA, @NASAInSight and @NASAJPL; and Instagram by @NASA and @NASAJPL .
How do I register?
Registration for this event opens on this page Monday, March 12 and closes at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 20.. 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?
Yes. International social media users without U.S. citizenship may apply. Those who are selected are required to submit full legal name, date of birth, nationality and passport number. To be admitted, you will need to show two government-issued identifications (one must be your passport) that match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. All registrants must be at least 18 years old.
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 and those on the waitlist. We expect to send notifications no later than March 26.
What are NASA Social media credentials?
Social media credentials give users a chance to apply for the same access as journalists in an effort to align the access and experience of social media representatives with those of traditional media. People who actively collect, report, analyze and disseminate news on social networking platforms are encouraged to apply for media credentials. Selection is not random. All social media accreditation 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 watch the launch and participate in the conversation online. Get more info at https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/mission/timeline/launch/ .
What are the registration requirements?
Registration indicates your intent to travel to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California 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. Moreover, NASA is not responsible for loss or damage incurred if the event is canceled with limited or no notice. Please plan accordingly.
Vandenberg is a government facility. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter. IMPORTANT: To be admitted, you will need to provide two forms of unexpired government-issued photo identification. US persons will need to show a valid drivers license or state-issued ID card. Foreign nationals will need to show a valid passport.
All registrants must be at least 18 years old.
What if the spacecraft’s launch date changes?
Hundreds of different factors can cause a scheduled launch date to change multiple times. NASA will notify registrants of any changes by email.
If the launch is postponed on May 5, attendees will be invited to attend a later launch date.
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 InSight Launch NASA Social qualify me for media accreditation?
No, your registration and/or attendance does not qualify you for news media credentials at Vandenberg Air Force Base, now or in the future.
What if I cannot come to Vandenberg Air Force Base?
If you cannot come to Vandenberg Air Force Base and attend in person, you should not register for the NASA Social.
You can watch the launch on NASA Television, NASA.gov/live or JPL’s YouTube live channel.
If you cannot make this NASA Social, don’t despair; NASA is planning others in the near future at various locations. Check back on https://www.nasa.gov/social for updates.