Twitter and the MESSENGER Flyby

NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft has had many firsts. Among these firsts (other than the actual science mission) is the impact that social media has had on perception of the mission. Twitter, in particular, has had a large presence in the MESSENGER coverage. Many of the scientists and fellows involved in the actual flyby have been "tweeting" their updates of what's happening, live. Never before have so many people been directly notified of such enormous details of NASA missions. One such Twitter user is @porchdragon. He also has a blog, called DragonPhysics, where he writes:

A crowded room room filled with a large center table. MESSENGER Fellows occupy that table looking at their laptops. People surrounding them eating and talking with each other. The Fellows are introduced to everyone as they come in – and their role in this event is explained.”To broadcast to the world what is happening here at the flyby.”

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Clear skies!