18: Social Media at NASA with Stephanie Fernandez

In this episode, Beth and Stephanie discuss:

• Helping the astronauts communicate (and educate) through social media
• What happened when Stephanie gets a phone call direct from the International Space Station
• What responsibilities come with the title, "Social Media Coordinator for the Astronaut Office"
• How NASA found Stephanie

Key Takeaways:

• Posts that have the most engagement are the most human.
• Astronaut words are their own
• "Follow your arrow. If it's something you're interested in, keep following that passion. It just takes the right opportunity."

"Sometimes, I have to take a minute to absorb what the astronauts are sending to us." — Stephanie Fernandez

About Stephanie Fernandez:

Stephanie serves as the Astronaut Office Social Media Coordinator for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. After graduating from the University of Houston in 2017, and after completing her internship with NASA, Stephanie was hired full time in February in 2018. As social media coordinator, Stephanie helps provide proxy posting for on-orbit crew, serves as an account manager for NASA astronauts on social media, and works closely with NASA headquarters, legal office, imagery groups, and the public affairs office.

Social Media Accounts

• Active astronauts - https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/active
• NASA Astronauts
• • Twitter: https://twitter.com/NASA_Astronauts
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NASAAstronauts/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nasaastronauts/

'Best Of' on social media + great stories behind the projects:

• Komrade's Fidget Spinner in Space video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82t9Tk9dUHs
• Komrade's Go-Pro Spacewalk footage - https://www.facebook.com/AstroKomrade/videos/372427559845072/
• ISS 20th Anniversary: Astronaut memories - https://www.facebook.com/ISS/videos/582395498860290/
• 2Fish's Pudding in space video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYV4gl558xc
• Ricky's Earth shot of Indonesia - https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg8zE55FZ1X/

About Beth Mund:

Beth's love for space started as a Space Camp attendee at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where she would return years later as an instructor. After grad school, Beth worked as a journalist, a technical writer for Motorola, and then went on to serve as a Public Affairs Officer for the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In addition, Beth worked to support the International Space Station program as a communication specialist. In Chicago, Beth worked as a corporate communication advisor to Fortune 50 companies including Allstate and United Airlines. She's worked as a college instructor, a political advisor, and public relations manager for her hometown city. Beth recently founded Stellar Communications, LLC and travels the country as a keynote speaker- inspiring audiences with her lessons learned from our nation's space program. She's the host of the Casual Space Podcast, and a self-proclaimed space geek.

Connect with Beth Mund: Email: askbeth@casualspacepodcast.com Website: bethmund.com/casualspace Facebook: @Casual Space Podcast