April 2, 2012

Allard Beutel Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 allard beutel@nasa gov

Michael Braukus Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1979 michael j braukus@nasa gov

Kirstin Brost Grantham Space Exploration Technologies, Hawthorne, Calif 202-649-2716 kirstin@spacex com

RELEASE: 12-103

NASA, SPACEX ANNOUNCE NASA SOCIAL FOR FALCON 9 LAUNCH ATTEMPT

WASHINGTON -- NASA and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will invite 50 of their social media followers to a two-day NASA Social April 29-30 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida The event is expected to culminate in the launch of SpaceX's second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration flight SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is targeted to lift off at 12:22 p m EDT on April 30, in an attempt to become the first commercial company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station

Registration opens at noon EDT Thursday, April 5, and closes at noon Friday, April 6 Fifty participants will be selected from online registrations

For more information on NASA Social and to register, visit:

http://www nasa gov/social

A NASA Social is an event for people who use NASA's social media accounts For this event, fans and followers on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ are eligible to register Participants will have unique in-person experiences with SpaceX and NASA, which they are encouraged to share with others through their favorite social network Guests will view the launch, tour NASA facilities at Kennedy, speak with representatives from both organizations, view the SpaceX launch pad, meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media, and meet members of SpaceX and NASA's social media teams

SpaceX will launch its Dragon spacecraft atop its Falcon 9 launch vehicle to test and prove its systems for a rendezvous with the space station The flight's objectives include a fly-under of the station to validate operation of sensors and flight systems necessary for a safe rendezvous, berthing to the station and returning the Dragon spacecraft to Earth

Because portions of this event may take place in restricted areas, registration is limited to U S citizens

Since 2006, NASA's COTS program has invested financial and technical resources to stimulate private sector efforts to develop and demonstrate safe, reliable and cost-effective space transportation capabilities In a multi-phase strategy, the program spurs the innovation and development of new spacecraft and launch vehicles from commercial industry to create a new system of delivering cargo to low-Earth orbit and the space station

For more information about COTS, visit:

http://www nasa gov/cots

To find all the ways to connect and collaborate with NASA, visit:

http://www nasa gov/connect

To follow SpaceX on Twitter, visit:

http://www twitter com/SpaceX

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www nasa gov/station

For more information about SpaceX or the Dragon spacecraft, visit:

http://www spacex com

-end-

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