NASA #GRAIL tweetup in photos, videos, links and tweets

It seems as though my attempt at blogging this year has taken a backseat to teaching, but I'm ok with it because teaching astronomy is just as fun as I thought it would be. I never did write/copy and paste together the blog I wanted to for the GRAIL tweetup, but since just this evening GRAIL-A reached the moon and is orbiting, now seemed like a pretty good time. I wish I would have written down more quotes, bonded a little more with the tweeps, and done this a little sooner, but considering I only found out I was going about 16 hours before I went, I guess I did an alright job. So, here it is, a bit delayed, my GRAIL NASAtweetup experience in photos, videos, links and tweets. oh, and happy new year. :) 


photos.

day 1 - tour and presentations september 7, 2011

driving to the space coast!

rocket garden in the (rainy) morning

nasa social media team! 

our tour guides were @NASAman and @stephist! 

crossing the causeway

in the Atlas rocket area of CCAFS

where Juno was... but it's on the way to jupiter now :) MSL launches from here soon!

Joe Fust from United Launch Alliance @ulalaunch

home of MSL and Juno (and other things that launch on Atlas rockets!)

astronaut beach house!

launch pad 39A - where the apollo missions and lots of shuttle missions started

turn basin

VAB!

"hardware has been identified by an integrated KSC/MSFC team for potential re-use for the SLS heavy lift program"

space shuttle endeavour

one of my favorite places to be:VAB!

next stop... GRAIL!

me and grail!

tweeps! tweeting!

trent perotto, @NASA

charlie bolden, NASA administrator

nichelle nichols, Lt. Uhura from Star Trek! @realnichelle

 

Jim Adams, deputy director of planetary science for NASA!

 

maria zuber, grail principal investigator from MIT, & sami asmar, grail deputy project scientist from JPL

getting my book signed!

me and @neiltyson

me and @nasajim!!

doug ellison, talking about and showing us the awesomeness that is @nasa_eyes

the ladies from sally ride science, talking about moonkam

vern thorp, United Launch Alliance

 

stu spath, spacecraft engineer from lockheed martin

  

neil degrasse tyson doing what he does best

    

delta rocket model, grail model, grail tweep thank you poster

  

happy birthday! that's @jhjones when the tweeps singing to her :)

group photo, i'm right above the SA :)



day 2 - launch day, but not so much. september 8, 2011

  

space tweeps in the morning! and a constellation lesson from neil degrasse tyson and his green laser :) 

    

neil tyson, @ccorrie1, and the flat foot contest. 

foggy VAB in the morning

  

spacetweep friends from all over the place! @nessyhill  and @bacchus71

neil tyson dazzling everyone with space knowledge...

and then the launch got scrubbed due to upper level winds :(

  

I'm touching the moon! for real! 

@jhjones, also known as @CassiniSaturn, with a photo/imprint of Cassini!

me and david hurd, from edinboro university of PA! (edinboro is a state school like IUP where I graduated!) got all kinds of fun moon things for my classroom!

neil degrasse tyson and @NASAtweetup's  @schierholz

day 3 - launch september 10, 2011

gorgeous morning for a launch at Kars Park in Merritt Island, Florida

tweeps! 

my new friend Mike! @scienceclass411 he teaches astronomy too!

we've got us a rocket to the moon! go GRAIL!

  

we saw a rocket go to the moon!

videos.

me and neil degrasse tyson, with a message for my students
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLKainyBzqc

neil degrasse tyson - nasa and dreams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdgAWW002To&list=UUszBqN2ITX-NSwSPrpTNeDg&index=6&feature=plcp

neil degrasse tyson- view of science
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBDjrt2hN0U&context=C32114eaADOEgsToPDskKZK8m4Bm34goN7t3vCdI5k

neil degrasse tyson- how to be a scientist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vVin223lIA&context=C322ed24ADOEgsToPDskL7Lbsr_ZD7SfI_I298QYzw

launch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V66Ij2GAYOk&list=UUszBqN2ITX-NSwSPrpTNeDg&index=10&feature=plcp

a little better launch video :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1elSL-w1B8g

the presentations, part 1, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVAGRU4-4A0&feature=related

courtesy of eyes on the world's you tube page

the presentations, part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5coo1w6x7s&list=UUEGdgC-eJI442rBcGHpc6tA&index=2&feature=plcp

again, courtesy of eyes on the world's you tube page

links.
nasa's grail website
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/grail/home.cfm
you can download the GRAIL iphone app!

grail tweetup
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/news/grail20110722.html

nasa grail image gallery
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/multimedia/gallery/gallery-index.html

grail mission overview
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/overview/index.html

grail fact sheet
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/578754main_grail.pdf


tweets.

Wednesday - September 7

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

Hello again pre #NASATweetupinsomnia, nice to see you again :) T-4 hours until #grail tweetup begins! Excited!!!

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

looks like a good day for a #NASAtweetup to me :)

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

only 4 tables into #NASAtweetupintros and i'm pretty sure the NASA social media team somehow finds the coolest people ever.

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

#NASATweetup #grail has lots of teachers!! @ScienceClass411@love4thgrade (&ones I forgot) let's get together for a teacher photo!!

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@jhjones just saw you walk in to the #NASATweetup!! I have to thank you in person for all the@NASAJPL goodies!

@MsFiremoneyECC

Y'all, we are the smartest, most interesting, best-looking bunch of space geeks EVER. #GRAIL #NASAtweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

#nasatweetup #grail #bus4. party bus :)

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

Me and GRAIL!yfrog.com/nvs0lmj

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

Endeavour is in the VAB :) (so, yes@amaiman , I was hoping, and it was!) yfrog.com/g0lgkzj

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@NASAMan thanks for being such an awesome tour guide today! #bus4isallkindsofawesome #NASAtweetup #grail

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

This is what a #NASATweetuplooks like! yfrog.com/h689kmwj

@NASAKennedyNASA Kennedy / KSC

Delta II rocket and #GRAIL moon-bound spacecraft are ready for the mission. Video: bit.ly/qnS47Z

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

"I wanna know if there's life elsewhere in the universe." -Charlie Bolden, NASA Administrator #NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

All kinds of people show up at #NASATweetup! It's Lt. Uhura!yfrog.com/mf71kjj

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

"nothing is impossible. If you can dream it, if you can imagine it, you can do it." -Nichelle Nichols #NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

There were 90.7 million potential impressions sent out by@NASAJuno tweeps! #NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

NASA loves math! "if you don't study algebra, you're not setting the right path for yourself." - @nasajim #NASATweetup

@ocaptmycaptJay Fooshee

Vote for #spaceboat - yeah. exactly what you think it is. #NASAtweetup#grail

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

Maria Zuber, #grail PI: "Apollo moon rocks are the gift that keep on giving" heck yes!! I have some in my classroom now! :) #NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

Geology nerds unite! Maria Zuber, #grail investigator just mentioned my favorite mineral, plagioclase feldspar! #NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

“Press always asks me what are you going to discover? If I knew that, I could save myself a lot of trouble." -Dr. Zuber #NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

"@canadianpenguin:know something's going on at @NASAwhen @d_l_miller is blowing up my stream with nerdy stuff"

@mil_historicusChris Levesque

#GRAIL probes are taking the scenic route to the moon. Low energy route cheaper b/c smaller rocket and less braking. #GRAIL#NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@neiltyson just put some knowledge in my head. Well, he put his book against my head... that counts, right? #NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@neiltyson signed my book. Well, his book, but I own it. #NASATweetup :)yfrog.com/ntfxgkhj

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@nasa_eyes!! And @NASAJuno!! #NASATweetupyfrog.com/nveu3ej

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

Me and @neiltyson!!!!!! #NASATweetup makes dreams come true :) yfrog.com/nw4axgj

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

We're seeing the 259th and last delta rocket launch from launch complex 17. #NASATweetup #grail

@anthonyfitchAnthony Fitch

#NASATweeutp is like an adult fieldtrip ! Couldn't have said it better myself! #GRAIL

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

"A scientist is just someone who never grew up." -@neiltyson #NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

"we spend the first 2 years of a childs life teaching them to walk&talk the rest of their life to sit down&shut up" @neiltyson #NASATweetup

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@NASATweetup - thanks for an amazing day!. #GRAIL tweeps- you are fabulous. see you all in the morning... think positive! #GoGRAIL!

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@jhjones happy birthday!!yfrog.com/nwk36qj

@NASAJunoNASA's Juno Mission

Both GRAIL & Juno investigate internal structure & history using gravity science. Go GRAIL!bit.ly/rcXAhh

@nasajimJim Adams

#GRAIL is "Go" for MST roll back after Phase 1 lightning warning is lifted at approx 9PM!@NASATweetup Go GRAIL!

Thursday - September 8

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

#NASATweetup day 2... #GoGRAIL!!

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

#NASATweetup day 2! #GoGRAIL!! PS: boaters, anything that could leak & atmospheric patterns, I'd appreciate your cooperation. Thanks :)

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

only at a #nasatweetup can you early morning satellite spot with@neiltyson.

@InsideKSCInsideKSC

The final readiness poll is now being conducted by the launch director. Upper level winds are currently RED.

@ExploreSpaceKSCKSC Visitor Complex

First launch attempt has been waived off due to upper level winds. There's another launch opportunity at 9:16 a.m. EDT.

@NASANASA 

The weather didn’t cooperate for NASA’s GRAIL launch. We try again tomorrow at 8:33 a.m. ET.go.nasa.gov/mY2UBQ

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

listening to @neiltyson talk about the universe. wish he'd come teach my students. Everything he says sounds so cool.yfrog.com/klhtplmj

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@neiltyson - "I love hostile aliens!"

8 Sep via Twitter for iPhoneFavorite Reply Delete

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

RT @nasahqphoto #GRAIL #NASATweetup attendees gather for a group photo. Check it out!flic.kr/p/akxjMh I'm above the S!!

_AndieL Andrea LaBonte 

@ 

@d_l_miller I totally picked you out from the group when this originally got tweeted!!

8 Sep Favorite Reply

in reply to ↑

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@_AndieL I'm famous! Haha!#NASATweetup is so much fun! You should register next time there's one at Kennedy :)

8 Sep via Twitter for iPhoneFavorite Reply Delete

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

@ScienceClass411 thanks for riding the shuttle launch experience w/ me! & for hanging with me for all that other fun #NASATweetup stuff :)

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

lesson planning for tmrw, decided it's moon day! 

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

Must. Sleep. Now. 16 year olds in less than 6 hours. #grail #NASATweetup = not enough sleep but totally worth it.

9 Sep via Twitter for iPhoneFavorite Reply Delete

Friday - September 9

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

2 days of #NASAtweetup tweep-y fun makes for one very (tired) excited science teacher! moon rocks & #grail! in my classroom it's moon day!

9 Sep via webFavorite Reply Delete

Launch Day - September 10 

@nasajimJim Adams

Excited by #GRAIL? Do 3 things: 1) go to Launchwatch.org 2) Look up at the Moon differently now 3) Tell/Inspire someone!

10 Sep via webFavorite Undo Retweet Reply

Retweeted by d_l_miller 

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

#GoGrail!!

@d_l_millerdanielle miller

#NASATweetup #grail launch today! Headed to the coast! #GoGRAIL!

looking back on GRAIL tweetup

Top 5 things I learned from the GRAIL NASAtweetup :)

5. Every time I think that I've seen the people NASA do the coolest stuff ever, they go and surprise me again.
I got to go to JUNO tweetup, then they found me a spot at GRAIL tweetup. I got to go inside the VAB during a teacher training, then I got to go inside the VAB at juno tweetup and Discovery was there, AND THEN I got to go inside the VAB during grail tweetup and Endeavour was there. (ps NASA: next time you let me go in there, I'm moving in.)

4. Space tweeps are good people. 
Earlier today, I posted on twitter that I couldn't find my copy of the GRAIL tweetup program, and less than 5 minutes later, it was in my inbox. My name wasn't on it because I was added last minute, but obviously, I'm gonna need it for my scrapbook. I got a ton of new resources for my classroom and made a bunch of new friends. Even on my first day there, when I didn't know anyone yet, people let me share their umbrellas, the shelter of their cars, and squealed with excitement with me when I told them about the moon rocks in my classroom.

3. I'm not the only nerd out there.
Everyday when I teach, I get giggles and eye rolls from my students. Honestly, if I was in their shoes, I'd probably laugh at my nerdiness too. But sometimes, when you don't have to explain who an astronaut is, or you're not the only one to laugh at a nerdy joke or you know what mineral someone is talking about when they mention plagioclase feldspar, you know you're among friends.

2. The moon is COOL.
With Saturn being so pretty and Pluto getting dwarfed the rest of the solar system sometimes overshadows our lovely little satellite. And, let's be honest, there are some other moons out there (I'm talking to you, Titan) that are really, really cool, but our moon is pretty awesome too. If you ever get to see Magnificent Desolation in 3D, I recommend it highly. Seeing what those 12 astronauts saw was super scary and super cool. I'm still not really sure how they managed to hop on a Saturn V in the first place, but then on top of riding a missile, they spent 3 days in a car sized spacecraft with 2 other dudes only to end up at a place that could kill them if that suit failed.... insane. Kudos Armstrong, Aldrin, Conrad, Bean, Shepard, Mitchell, Scott, Irwin, Duke, Young. Cernan, and Schmitt, for being the most bad-assy bad asses ever. (And thanks for bringing back the rocks that are hanging out in my classroom now :) Kudos to the command module men too, I'd be scared out of my mind to be orbiting the moon ALONE.  But, even after all the galavanting around on the moon by those 12, we still don't know everything about it... and that makes it even cooler. GRAIL is going to find out what's inside, and I can't wait to see what happens when we find something unexpected, because I'm sure we will. It really makes you think when you realize the moon is our closest space neighbor, we've been there, and we don't have everything figured out yet. Imagine what else is waiting for us out there.

1. Rockstars aren't the only Rockstars.
Neil deGrasse Tyson had a line for pictures and autographs. Nichelle Nichols had people squirming out of their seats with excitement. Stephanie from the NASA social media team got a standing ovation. There was a line at the moon exhibit to touch a moon rock. A room full of people ooh-ed and ahh-ed over a 3D computer program that lets you view the solar system and everything in it on any day and time you choose. Science is everything and if I have anything to do with it, it won't be long before everyone I know is signing up for tweetups so they can feel the same way I do.

today was an awesome day.

This afternoon during 5th period, I got a call from my principal to tell me the moon rocks I'm borrowing for my classroom from NASA had arrived, and I squealed like a 13 year old in front of my class. They think I'm funny and/or the most gigantic nerd ever. Then, after 5th period, as I was running to the office to pick up the moon rocks, I got an email saying there was a spot for me at the GRAIL Tweetup tomorrow and Thursday, and I danced around the main office like a maniac. After staying at school until 6:17 (which I noticed because I got there this morning at 6:17 and it made me laugh)  my sub plans are done, and I'm ready to go. Am I excited? Of course. Am I desperately trying to figure out how to make the moon fit into my lesson plans when it wasn't supposed to be there for another 2 weeks, yes. But, my students will just have to suffer... if they notice at all. My OCD self is bothered that I haven't talked about constellations yet, but those 88 bad boys will just have to wait. Am I a little worried I'm going to be lost when all the presenters are talking tomorrow? Slightly, just because when I went to the Juno Tweetup, I had a month to prepare and read every Juno website ever. Now, I'm just scrambling around trying to find my camera battery charger, get my 2 forms of government issued ID, pack my rain coat in case of normal Florida weather and sharpies in case I meet anyone cool (which I probably will because Neil deGrasse Tyson, my favorite astrophysicist will be there) and all kinds of other things I had a month to pull together last time.

But, bottom line,
1. I'm insanely in love with the people that work for NASA's social media team that get all this stuff together for us.

2. I'm thrilled that I get to go on another behind the scenes tour of NASA. (Vehicle Assembly Building, here I come again! Don't you think after the 3rd time I should be able to just move in? I do.)

3. I'm ecstatic that I get to be there for another launch. Maybe this time I'll be able to hold myself together and not cry like a baby.

4. I'm sad that I'll be away from my students for two days, but can't wait to see the kinds of fun stuff I get to bring back to the classroom.

5. I'm not going to sleep tonight. :)


I'll be blogging after GRAIL, so come back and visit soon!