Houston, We're Headed to NASA!

Sometimes I apply for things I don't believe I have any real chance of getting, because you only live once, right? And sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised when I open a "Congratulations!" email informing me that I indeed am a chosen one (but...how??). Recently, one of those things was a VIP opportunity to go to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL and document the experience on social media while representing STEM education in libraries. Ya'll...NASA knows my name!!

I, along with 24 other people across the US, have been selected to attend this year's "State of NASA" event where we'll take a tour of our assigned facility, see current advancing technology being worked on to send humans into space, observe our ever-changing world, and also improve air travel. We'll get to meet scientists, engineers, and managers of NASA's facilities and meet other enthusiasts and members of NASA's social media team. Through Twitter, Instagram, and FB you'll be getting a peek inside NASA's lead center for spacecraft propulsion as I share with my followers. To say I'm jumping-out-of-my-seat ecstatic is an understatement!

If you don't already, be sure to follow me on my social media accounts so you can get real-time updates on February 12th:

Twitter: @LibrarianLisAnn or @TheIndigoQuill
Instagram: @IndigoQuill 
Facebook: SBCPL or The Indigo Quill

Also, be sure to tune into NASATV that day as we will be doing a live simulcast with Administrator Robert Lightfoot as he talks about NASA's continuing progress on their exploration initiative that makes them the leading agency in space.

But I won't be stopping there! Next year's Summer Reading theme is Outer Space, and I will be involved in the CSLP planning process (I got a little excited at one of the state meetings and apparently it didn't go unnoticed), so I will be taking what I learn to the state and continue working to spread the awesomeness of science and space exploration to libraries across the map. In the near future, our library will be utilizing YouTube to share what we are learning and doing as a way to connect with other educators and exchange ideas. Opportunities such as this one are a great way to learn together and connect education to our progressive world and the next generation that will inherit it.

I hope you join me virtually as I hang out with NASA’s MSFC team on February 12th!