NASA to hold 'Tweetup' for shuttle launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- NASA says it is extending an invitation to its Twitter followers to view a space shuttle launch in person at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The U.S. space agency says it will host the "Tweetup" Nov. 11-12. Space shuttle Atlantis is to lift off at 4:04 p.m. EST Nov. 12 on its STS-129 mission to the International Space Station.

A "Tweetup" is defined as an organized or informal gathering of people who use the Twitter social networking service.

"This will be NASA's fifth Tweetup for our Twitter community," said Michael Cabbage, director of NASA's news services division. "Each event has provided our followers with inside access to NASA personnel, including astronauts. The goal of this particular Tweetup is to share the excitement of a shuttle launch with a new audience."

NASA said it will accommodate the first 100 people who sign up online for the event, with an additional 50 registrants to be added to a wait list. Registration opens Friday at noon EDT.

Registration and more information are available at http://www.nasa.gov/tweetup.