NASA 360. Check it out

A few weeks ago, NASA 360 went online at nasa.gov. The TV series, produced by Langley Research Center and the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), had already seen lots of air time on broadcast television. The show appears on 900 PBS, cable, and commercial stations in the U.S., and 1,200 internationally through the Voice of America satellite system. It’s also on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, and iTunes.

NASA 360 is really taking off now that it’s on nasa.gov. Within days, it broke into the top 10 most-downloaded videos. At one point this month (I haven’t checked this week) the program was the No. 1 downloaded video on nasa.gov. Along the way, the program has earned a slew of awards, including an Emmy nomination.

But the best feedback  is comments like this one from an iTunes viewer:

“I was looking for a good download for my science class and came across this program. How informative! Fast paced and interesting, it will keep my class motivated and glued to the screen … highly recommended.”

Why is NASA 360 successful online? I can’t really say for sure, though I like to think it’s because

Oh, and in case you’re wondering what NASA 360 is about: the program shows how NASA changes our lives in positive ways by examining how technology developed by and for the agency is used in everything from space exploration to everyday consumer products. Although the program has appeal to all ages, it is crafted to especially reach the Gen X and Y demographic.

So if you’re interested in the NASA connection to things like unearthing a mummified dinosaur, rediscovering parts of the Lewis and Clark Trail, the Mayan civilization, and auto racing, check out NASA 360 at:

Hats off to those who make NASA 360 possible. The 360 team has succeeded in being new, fresh, original, creative, innovative, exciting, relevant, and high quality in everything it does. You also can’t underestimate the power of nasa.gov to reach people.

Special kudos to producers/shooters/interviewers/editors Mike Bibbo and Kevin Krigsvold, who are NIA employees at Langley, and show hosts Jennifer Pulley and Johnny Alonso. And to NASA’s Strategic Communications Office, the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, and the Exploration Technology Development Program for funding NASA 360 episodes, and the NIA management.

2 Responses to “NASA 360. Check it out”

  1. Nick Skytland  on October 14th, 2008

    I watched a few episodes on facebook and LOVE IT. I’ve referred to NASA 360 in a few presentations I’ve given recently and am really appreciating all the work you’ve done. Keep it up – you are an invaluable resource.

  2. kes  on October 15th, 2008

    I, also a NASA employee, stumbled upon the NASA360 site months ago, “via word of mouth,” and found that many of my colleagues at the NASA centers had not even heard of it. I was impressed by the honesty integrity and knowledge-base of the information in addition to the enthusiasm for the subject topic; i.e., both educational AND entertaining. Nowadays there is to much “misinformation” out there. I brought the NASA360 topic up on NASASphere (when that was active) to connect more with others w/in NASA(find out whether they knew anything about it, etc). I am glad to see that NASA360 has been made more public & accessible. I have used their Facebook entry to send links to my non-NASA friends and family. I often use the content presented in these short videos in my everyday chats with non-NASA folks about what NASA brings to the world, and I am grateful for the information!