Are you instantly on Instagram? A Flickr fanatic? If you know the difference between shutter speed and an f-stop, this NASA Social is for you. NASA is hosting an event for its photo-fanatic social media followers on the morning of Feb. 27, 2014, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

This NASA Social will bring 15 social media photo-gurus together at NASA Goddard to snap and share photos of where NASA's next great Earth science satellite was developed, built and tested. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission Core Observatory is the largest satellite ever built and tested at NASA Goddard.

GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, and will set a new standard for precipitation measurements from space. The Core Observatory, working with a constellation of satellites already in orbit, will provide next-generation, worldwide observations of rain and snow every three hours.

** NASA Social participants and their friends and family are also invited to attend the GPM launch party at NASA Goddard's Visitor Center. We will watch a live NASA Television broadcast of the launch of GPM from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. The Visitor Center will be open from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. EST, with expert presentations and family-friendly hands-on demonstrations. The launch of the GPM Core Observatory is scheduled for no earlier than 1:07 p.m. EST, Feb. 27, 2014. **

NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to spend the morning:

• Getting a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA Goddard's world-class spacecraft integration and test facilities that ensure that GPM hardware and other spacecraft and instruments successfully survive the rigors of launch and space.
• Hearing how engineers at Goddard and JAXA overcame the challenge of building, shipping and testing the GPM satellite instruments built in two different countries, and which successfully withstood two natural disasters.
• Having one-on-one interactions with GPM scientists, engineers, and other NASA leaders.
• Talking to NASA scientists and engineers about designing and building:
  • The James Webb Space Telescope, currently housed in what is the world's largest clean room.
  • The Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, four identical spacecraft that will orbit Earth, making three-dimensional measurements of its magnetosphere.
• Meeting fellow photography and space enthusiasts who are active on social media and members of NASA's photography and social media teams.

Registration will be open from 12 p.m. (noon) EST on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, and closes at 12 p.m. EST Feb. 6, 2014.

REGISTER NOW

What is a Photo #NASASocial?
A Photo #NASASocial is an informal meeting of people who use social networking sites Instagram and Flickr. Participants at this event will be provided a unique in-person experience with NASA, which they are encouraged to share with others through their favorite photo sharing social network.

Guests will have an opportunity to learn more about the science and engineering being doing at NASA Goddard that both pushes the boundaries of space exploration and results in new technologies for medical research, materials science and aerospace.

How do I register?
Registration will be open on this page from 12 p.m. (noon) EST on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, and closes at 12 p.m. EST Feb. 6, 2014. Fifteen participants will be selected from online registrations. Registration is for one person only (you) and is non-transferable.

Additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list.

Do I need to have a social media account to register?
Yes. This event is designed for active social media users who follow NASA or JAXA missions on Instagram (NASA and NASA Goddard) or Flickr (NASA, NASA Goddard, NASA GSFC Pix). The goal of a NASA Social is to allow people who regularly interact with each other via social networks to meet in person and discuss space exploration.

Users on all social networks are encouraged to use the hashtag #GPM & #NASASocial. Updates and information about the event will be shared on Twitter via @NASASocial and via posts to Facebook and Google+.

What are the registration requirements?
Registration indicates your intent to travel to the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. and attend the half-day event in person. You are responsible for your own expenses for travel, accommodation, food and other amenities.

Some events and participants scheduled to appear at the event are subject to change without notice. NASA is not responsible for loss or damage incurred as a result of attending. NASA, moreover, is not responsible for loss or damage incurred if the event is cancelled with limited or no notice. Please plan accordingly.

The Goddard Space Flight Center is a government facility. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter the secure areas. To be admitted, you will need to show two government-issued identifications (one with a photo) that match the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. All registrants must be at least 18 years old.

Accessibility: While many of the activities during are ADA-compliant, please note that part of this event includes a tour of the NASA Goddard's satellite testing floor, a portion of which may not be wheelchair accessible.

Can I register if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. Non U.S. citizens must provide passport information. If you have a green card, you will be processed as a U.S. citizen. Those who are selected will need to complete an additional registration step to receive clearance to enter the secure areas before the established deadline for response. To be admitted, you will need to show government-issued photo identification that matches the name provided on the registration. Those without proper identification cannot be admitted. All registrants must be at least 18 years old.

Does my registration include a guest?
Because of space limitations, you may not bring a guest. Each registration provides a place for one person only (you) and is non-transferable. Each individual wishing to attend must register separately.

What if I cannot come to the Goddard Space Flight Center?
If you cannot come to the Goddard Space Flight Center to attend in person, you should not register for the NASA Social. You can follow the conversation using the #NASASocial hashtag on Instagram and Flickr.

If you cannot make this NASA Social, don't despair; NASA is planning others in the near future at various locations. Check back on http://www.nasa.gov/social for updates.

When will I know if I am selected?
After registrations have been received and processed, an email with confirmation information and additional instructions will be sent to those selected and those on the waitlist. We expect to send notifications Friday, February 7.

If you do not make the registration list for this NASA Social, you can still participate in the conversation online.

Does registration for and/or attendance at the NASA Social qualify me for media accreditation?
Your NASA Social registration and/or attendance does not qualify you for news media credentials at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, now or in the future.

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Have a question not answered here? Need more information? Help is available by sending an email to hq-social@nasa.gov.