How to Get a NASA Astronaut to Speak at Your Event

NASA astronauts, in addition to their main occupations of training for and performing important space missions, are also called upon by the organization to help reach out to the public with public relations efforts. In fact, NASA's website even has a page that lets you request an astronaut for your event. According to the information provided by NASA, requests to have an astronaut speak at events such as high schools, universities, businesses and business associations, military organizations, and community organizations will be given first priority.

Even if your group fits within one of these categories, there are only so many astronauts to go around and they are usually kept pretty busy with training and other official duties. Unfortunately, therefore many requests to have a NASA astronaut attend your function must be denied even if the cause is good. NASA policy also prohibits astronauts from attending any and all fund-raising events in their official capacity as well.

In order to get an astronaut to speak at your event, you have to follow the right procedures which are as follows:

First submit your request in writing to:

Astronaut Appearances Office
Mail Code CB
NASA Johnson Space Center
2101 NASA Parkway
Houston, TX 77058-3696

Or by fax to:

Astronaut Appearances Office
281-244-8863

The request must be submitted no sooner than six months before the event, and no later than 6 weeks before the event if it is local to the Houston, TX area, 8 weeks before the event if it is within the continental United States, and 10 weeks before the event if it is outside of the continental United States.

NASA's site lists the following pieces of information as mandatory if your request is to be considered:

a) Date and time of appearance

b) Location (city, state, and country)

c) Approximate number of people expected to attend the event

d) Name and a brief summary of the program or event

e) Description of astronaut's proposed role at the event. Examples include presentation, keynote speaker, or autographs

f) Description of publicity plans, especially those that encourage media coverage of the event

g) Statement indicating if the sponsoring organization is willing to accept any astronaut if the specific astronauts requested are not available

h) Statement indicating whether the request is from a profit or nonprofit organization

i) Name, address, telephone number, fax number, and email address of contact person

j) Statement indicating if the sponsoring organization has a NASA Contract, Grant, or Space Act Agreement

k) If so, indicate if funding from these sources will be used to pay expenses for the appearance

l) Statement indicating that the sponsoring organization assumes responsibility for all expenses associated with an appearance

The expenses for the appearance include round trip airfare from Houston,TX, ground transportation to and from the event, all meals, and accommodations.

For more information about astronaut appearances email jsc-astroapp@mail.nasa.gov or call 281-244-8866.

If you would like to be able to hear from and follow the astronauts during the course of their training and even during missions, many of them have Twitter accounts which they use frequently. Here is a partial list of the official Twitter accounts of some of NASA's astronauts:

• @NASA

• @Astro_Jose (Jose Hernandez often Tweets in Spanish.)

• @astro_mike (Mike Massimino has over a million followers.)

• @astro_nicole (Nicole Stott)

• @Astro_TJ (TJ Creamer, first Tweet from space)

• @Astro_Soichi (Soichi
• @astro_jeff (Jeff Williams)

• @shuttleCDRkelly (Mark Kelly)

• @stationCDRkelly (Scott Kelly)

• @astro_sandy (Sandy Magnus)

• @astro_tim (Col. Tim Kopra)

• @astro_127 (Mark Polansky)

Sources:

nasa.gov/about/speakers/astronautappearances.html

twitter.com/@NASA