Discovery Rules Galactic Social Media Empire

Discovery Alexandria Flyover @bethbeck

On Tuesday, I watched the Space Shuttle Discovery piggyback over Old Town Alexandria with several hundred others who gathered at the waterfront. When Discovery appeared in the sky, I cried. The intensity of emotion that flooded over me took me totally by surprise. I thought I was over it — that I’d moved on after the final Space Shuttle mission. I was wrong. It hit me hard.

Shuttle Discovery over DC. Photo: NASA/Chris Gunn

On Thursday, I was scheduled to speak at the first ever #140cuse social media conference at Syracuse University in New York. My topic: Launching a Galactic Social Media Empire. The format for the conference is 10 minute presentations. You can browse the list of speakers on the #140cuse Conference website.

Badge from #140cuse Conference

“One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.” — Sophocles, 400 B.C.

After an emotion-filled experience with Discovery, I changed the focus of my talk from creation of a social media empire to the outcomes from a social space empire — specifically the #SpotTheShuttle campaign. Social media connected us in awe and wonder as we looked up to the skies to witness a seasoned spaceship flying by the power of her Earth-bound transport over the nation’s Capitol on her way to retirement at the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy facility.

Discovery RULES the Galactic Social Media Empire!

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @ThinkGeek

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @ThinkGeek

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @LauraBly

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @ebuzzedge

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @USAgov

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @KelleyApril

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @kachok

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @DarrenMilligan

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @WorldBankPhotos

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @LisFace

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @SenJohnThune

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @jeff_foust

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @CindyhM1

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @raffg

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @PapaBradstein

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @almacy

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @brookezigler

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @datachick

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @RobertPearlman

Discovery #SpotTheShuttle @charlieowen4

Discovery: @stevenyoungsfn #SpotTheShuttle

Farewell, dear Discovery. You are well-loved.