--- title: "NASA Tells Astronauts That Tweeting Isn’t As Important as Staying Alive" description: "NASA's astronaut social media handbook just dropped — and they've got some staunch guidelines for safely tweeting on the ISS." date: "2022-11-18" modified: "2022-11-18" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-astronauts-iss-social-media-safety" categories: - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "international space station" - "NASA" - "social media" - "the digest" --- # NASA Tells Astronauts That Tweeting Isn’t As Important as Staying Alive ![NASA's astronaut social media handbook just dropped — and they've got some staunch guidelines for safely tweeting on the ISS.]() *\Image: NASA/Futurism\* ## Stayin' Alive NASA's astronaut social media handbook just dropped — and they've got some staunch guidelines for space tweeting. As part of a public records request, [NASA released to *Vox*]() an almost entirely unredacted copy of its current [social media handbook for astronauts](), and it offers a fascinating look into the agency's policies for the online astronauts it sends to space. Overall, it's a reasonable document. One particularly interesting detail? It advises astronauts to please lay off of posting when their lives are in jeopardy. Good advice for us all! ## Socialing In a 2018 memo from the Johnson Space Center included in the records provided to *Vox*, NASA notes that along with not posting for personal or financial gain or exposing state secrets, "social media efforts should always be considered secondary to the safety of the crew and vehicle." In another section of the guidelines, a slide reminds astronauts that "social media is voluntary and should be considered secondary to safety of mission and crew cohesion." ## Politicking Beyond bodily safety, political discretion is also repeatedly advised in the guidelines — an important detail, given the past and current tensions between the ISS' main players, the United States and Russia. While some have criticized NASA for doing a bit too much social networking — the agency operates a whopping *700* social media accounts, including on Reddit, Twitch, and LinkedIn — it clearly takes a backseat to onboard safety. Given how much can go wrong on both a mortal and interpersonal level while floating above the Earth, that's definitely a good thing. **More on the ISS:** [*Amazing Video Shows What the ISS Would Look Like If It Flew at the Height of a Jetplane*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()