Österreichisches Weltraum Forum Austrian Space Forum
I’m ready for somebody else’s adventure. I’m excited to be part of the AlexTweetup (26th – 30th May 2014) group, travelling to Baikonur to see the launch of ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst, NASA astronaut Gregory Wiseman and Russian cosmonaut Maxim Surajew to the International Space Station on 28th May.
But let me start at the beginning.
All started with the first SpaceTweetup in Europe in September 2011. ESA and DLR invited 60 of their social media followers to Cologne to get a unique experience at the astronaut center. I met so many likeminded people and stayed in contact via social media. Later this year I followed Remco Timmermans’ (@timmermansr) tweets on his SoyuzTweetup in Baikonur. From this moment I knew, that I’d love to do that too.
In the meantime I organized the first MarsTweetup in Austria , attended the first SpaceUp in Europe, planned the #AuraTweetup meets #simulateMars hangout so I could stay in touch with the people I first met at the SpaceTweetup. As much as I love social media and sharing my passion for space and inspiring others with our #simulateMars analog research at the Austrian Space Forum & simulations I do really enjoy meeting my social media friends in person.
When I saw that Remco made plans to organize an #AlexTweetup to attend the launch of astronaut Alexander Gerst in Baikonur, I signed up for the group and when the details were announced, also for the trip together with 15 Space Tweeps from all over Europe. Some of them I had known since the SpaceTweetup in Cologne and I’m really looking forward to travel with them to Kazakhstan and see somebody else’s adventure come true.
I’ve never seen a rocket launch before, so this is another must-have-done in your lifetime thing I can sweep off my bucket list. But moreover what better way to attend a first rocket launch together with 15 likeminded people spreading simultaneously their experience?
I got my visa today. I’m leaving for Moscow on 23rd May. The adventure can start. You can follow us along on the #AlexTweetup hashtag and get updates and impressions from our trip.
About myself:
Olivia Haider
OeWF Board Member
OeWF Social Media teamlead
@olidax @oewf
Further Reading: