CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. (NASA PR) — Social media users are invited to register to take part in a global virtual NASA Social for the agency’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to the International Space Station. This is the second uncrewed flight test of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA and Boeing are targeting launch of the Starliner spacecraft on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 6:54 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 19, from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Starliner is expected to arrive at the space station for docking about 24 hours after launch with more than 500 pounds of NASA cargo and crew supplies. After a successful docking, Starliner will spend five to 10 days aboard the orbiting laboratory before returning to Earth in the western United States. The spacecraft will return with nearly 600 pounds of cargo, including reusable Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System (NORS) tanks that provide breathable air to station crew members.
Following a successful completion of OFT-2, NASA and Boeing will determine a launch window for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, Starliner’s first flight with astronauts aboard.
If your passion is to communicate and engage the world via social media, then this is the event for you! Seize the opportunity to blog, tweet, Instagram or simply share everything about the OFT-2 mission.
NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to:
- Obtain your own NASA Social badge to share
- Connect virtually with a community of people excited about the Orbital Flight Test-2 mission
- Watch videos to learn more about the OFT-2 mission
- Get notified about images, videos, online tools and NASA news
- Watch as United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket launches Boeing’s #Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station
The NASA Social Facebook event page will open on May 11 and everyone is invited to join by selecting the “Going” button. Please note by attending the virtual event, you are explicitly agreeing to a set of rules/guidelines and anyone who breaks these rules may be banned from the event page.
All resources, participation, and registration are FREE. Register below to let NASA know that you’re virtually participating!
Do I need to have a Facebook account to register?
Yes. This event is designed for people who:
- Actively use multiple social networking platforms and tools to disseminate information to a unique audience.
- Have previous postings that are highly visible, respected and widely recognized.
Users on all social networks are encouraged to use the hashtag #Starliner. Updates and information about the event will be shared on Twitter via @NASASocial and @NASAKennedy, and via posts to Facebook and Instagram.
How do I join?
Select “Going” for this event on the designated Facebook event page.
Please note by “attending” the Facebook event, you are explicitly agreeing to the group’s rules as set forth by NASA.
Can I register if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Yes! This is a global NASA Social, and we would love for you to be a part of it.
What if I don’t have a Facebook account?
If you don’t have a Facebook account, you still can watch the launch by tuning in May 19 for the launch broadcast. You can watch live on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitch, NASA TV or the NASA app.
What if the launch date changes?
Hundreds of different factors can cause a scheduled launch date to change multiple times. If the launch date changes prior, NASA may adjust the date of the NASA Social accordingly to coincide with the new target launch date. NASA will notify registrants of any changes on the Facebook event page.
If the launch is postponed, attendees will be able to watch the launch at a later date on the Facebook event page. For OFT-2 mission updates, visit:
