Twitter is making this mission to mars extra fun.
First, Curiosity has been tweeting with a great blend of personality and substance. NASA’s social media team are doing a great job. Apologies if this doesn’t show up nicely in the RSS, I’m going to use the new WordPress embed tweet function for the majority of this post…
See the 1st laser-zapped rock on Mars [pic & info] http://t.co/bbUhe50o Team is analyzing data now #MSL #PewPew
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 19, 2012
Yes, I've got a laser beam attached to my head. I'm not ill tempered; I zapped a rock for science: http://t.co/81ddu3lY #MSL #PewPew
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 19, 2012
Let's get ready to #Reddit! @NASAJPL scientists & engineers (& social media team) ready for your Qs: http://t.co/8s8yrVMo
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 16, 2012
It has made the Curiosity mission to Mars lots of fun, and shows some of the benefits of doing social media well. And its spawned a few fun spin offs.
Like today. As Curiosity announced it was about to employ its rock zapping laser for the first time on a humble rock named N165. N165 soon had its own Twitter account.
So much going on around here lately – the most excitement I've had in millions of years! But I'm glad it's back to normal now.
— N165 aka Coronation (@N165Mars) August 18, 2012
@MarsCuriosity Hi there! Welcome to the neighborhood! I see that you're new here — would you like to be friends?
— N165 aka Coronation (@N165Mars) August 18, 2012
<putting best rock-face forward> I wish I could wave.
— N165 aka Coronation (@N165Mars) August 18, 2012
Um, @MarsCuriosity, what are you…. hey! … HEY!
— N165 aka Coronation (@N165Mars) August 19, 2012
OW OW OW! STOP IT!
— N165 aka Coronation (@N165Mars) August 19, 2012
I think part of me is missing. :(
— N165 aka Coronation (@N165Mars) August 19, 2012
Somehow it helps, knowing it was all for science. But I still think I'll stay away from @MarsCuriosity from now on. #ouch
— N165 aka Coronation (@N165Mars) August 19, 2012
Here’s the science behind the story of this poor rock on Mars.