How to tweet like an astronaut
Not everyone can spend six months on the International Space Station, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find some great moments to document—and wow your followers in the process.
“We don’t want to be disconnected,” Fossum said. “The lights are glowing in your laps. You want to know what’s going on right now. You demand it.”
That demand, plus a desire to share an experience only a handful of people get, is why Fossum and Garan have been tweeting about their journeys in space for about four years now.
“When Mike and I flew together in 2008 and I looked out the window for the first time, it was frustrating to me,” Garan said. “I saw this amazing sight that I couldn’t really describe, I couldn’t really share.”
Since then, they’ve shared their stories and sights to huge audiences. Garan’s first tweet from space, a photo of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, was retweeted by the White House and by celebrities and got 126,000 views in a week. And though NASA may have a leg up on earthbound communicators in terms of inspiring awe, a good number of the astronauts’ tips for tweeting could come in handy for anyone.
1. Re-create the emotion.
“We’re always looking for creative ways to tell the story,” Garan said. “I saw this as a way that I could bring people on, not just as spectators, but as crew members.”
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