Beginners guide on how to become part of the worldwide #spacetweeps community. Learn how to use twitter to find new friends that share your passion for space, while in the meantime helping the space industry excite the general public about space exploration. This version was used for a talk at the SpaceUp Unconference in Paris, on 25 May 2013 Warning: This presentation may change your life!

1. 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

2. Social Media are a waste of time!

3. Real versus virtual friends?

4. Real versus virtual friends?
Social media are about
SOCIAL
(more than about MEDIA)
Virtual friends ARE real friends!

5. 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

6. 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.

7. The Space Community Needs You!
we need to tell
the world
about this…

8. How to become a spacetweep?
• Be social – we are real people!
• Create a free Twitter account
• Become active!

9. 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/

10. 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

11. Your Twitter bio
• Bad… • Good…

12. 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!

13. 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!

14. #NASASocial
Social media changed my life…

15. ESA/DLR #SpaceTweetup
This is YOUR community!

16. #SpaceUp Europe
Meet us!

17. ESA/DLR #ILATweetup
You will visit places you always thought could not be visited…

18. #AlexTweetup - #SamanthaTweetup
Social media bring you to remote places!

19. #AuroraTweetup
You will stay warm by excitement and friendship

20. 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

22. Who to follow?
• Your real life friends
• Worldwide #spacetweeps
• Space communities like 
• Space agencies
• Space industry
• Space journalists
• Astronauts!

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. Thank you!
See you on Twitter!
@timmermansr
@SpaceUpEU
@WorldSpaceWeek