November 1-2, 2012
They say the first NASA Social is not one you'll ever forget. And indeed, nothing could have prepared me for how exciting it would be, despite the fact that I was ecstatic from the minute my application was accepted.
This is just the beginning of the highlights of the experience. More soon!
1. The Badge (Nov 1, 2012)
The coveted #NASASocial badge. When you check-in with the NASA Social managers, and are "anointed" with THE badge and a bag of goodies (and that was just the start), you feel special.
You have a behind-the-scenes access badge that often takes you places where even traditional media don't go. There certainly was a buzz in the air as the group gathered at the entrance to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC).
2. The Bus (Nov 1, 2012)
Whenever you attend a NASA Social at KSC, there are three classic bus shots. First, everyone is excited tweeting and uploading pictures - heads down. But you want to pay attention, because second, you get an on-the-go briefing from your NASA Social lead, in this case, Jason Townsend. Third, you see the unmistakable Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on the horizon. Destination VAB.
If you visit KSC sans NASA Social (which you totally should anyway), make sure you get on a bus tour. There is so much to see between the VAB, launch pads and LC-34, where the Apollo 1 launch pad fire tragedy happened in 1967.
3. VAB Tour (Nov 1, 2012)
One of the first sites to visit is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This building is historic - not only for it's size, but the fact that space shuttles were prepped and mated to the booster rockets here.
We get a briefing on what is changing in the VAB to make way for the next generation of launch vehicles. A primary objective is to make the facility flexible for various types and sizes of launch vehicles to make the VAB more multi-purpose. The work to remove unnecessary components has already started.
