The day I got the email saying I was accepted into NASA's social team didn't even feel real. I left behind a regular week in my college life to travel to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Before I knew it, I was at the high-security Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous walking into the building by myself. I was jumping into a whole experience where I knew absolutely no one. I have loved watching space documentaries since I was very young but after going college to pursue a career in the arts and media, I was never expecting to wound up at a NASA Facility!

Kirsten Haddox

They handed me a schedule and a list of information about the launch (as well as some free merch!) and directed me into a conference room, where I met the rest of the social team. I quickly realized I was the youngest one there, with most people on the team being in their late 20s-mid 30s. After we introduced ourselves to each other, I noticed how nice everyone was on my team as well as the NASA faculty in general. Everyone was just genuinely happy to be there and beyond excited for the weekend ahead of them.

We left the guest center and headed to get several tours of the facility. I got to see the warehouse where they build the rockets, the control room, and multiple rooms of the factories. Getting to stand right next to a rocket the height of the Statue of Liberty a day before it was headed to the International Space Station? Insanely cool.

When we got back from our tours, we headed into the conference room and saw a panel of scientists about to speak on a NASA live stream. The room was filled with specially invited reporters from various space news networks. I was shocked and honored to be sitting right in front of a live information panel with millions of viewers. The scientists covered various facts on the launch, such as what they were taking up to the space station and the procedures for how the rocket was going to make it there. It was literally rocket science.

I met a girl on the social team not much older than me who engineers the plant seeds to send to the International Space Station for the astronauts to grow. That was so interesting to see someone with a profession like that! It is a more complicated process than I expected. They currently have engineered radishes and lettuce for the astronauts to grow, and are currently hoping to soon have more complex plants such as strawberries and tomatoes available to send to space as well! I got to see the seeds packaged and ready to be sent on the rocket. The astronauts love gardening in their space station, it makes them feel a bit at home.

The next morning, we all got up bright and early to shoot the rocket launch. Prior to getting to the location, we got a tour of the control center. The place looked like it was straight out of a movie. The entire back wall was covered in screens holding the countdown as well as camera views of the rocket and statistical information. The rest of the social team and I set up our camera equipment less than two miles away from the rocket, the closest anyone was allowed to be to it. It was pretty chilly out, so while we waited for the final countdown NASA had a nice tent and a catering service to keep us warm and well-fed! I was not complaining. As we waited, I got to know some more of the members of the social team. I loved that we all came from various backgrounds and professions, but had one thing we loved in common: Space.

My heart started racing like crazy when the final countdown began. Right as they reached the final thirty seconds, however, they started postponing the launch. Confusion filled my team members and I, but we were still hopeful the launch would still happen. Unfortunately due to technical issues and the launch time window passing, NASA decides to postpone the launch. Although the circumstances, it was a great call to rather be safe than sorry to ensure the rocket would make it to the Space Station. And luckily enough, it did! Although I could not stay for the new launch date and had to return back to my college classes, I loved every second of being a part of the NASA social team. I met so many amazing and talented people and I would not trade my experience for anything! After I returned to college, I helped promote the new launch date by creating a graphic (pictured above) and marketing on my social media platforms. I am looking forward to coming back in the future to see a rocket lift-off myself!