Thanks to social media, outer space feels closer than ever before.
Astronauts of all countries are represented on Twitter, Reddit and other sites, allowing users to connect, engage and learn about space on an incredibly personal level รข€" something that is unthinkable without the use of social media.
We took a look back at the most notable social media space "firsts," and arranged them in the timeline below.
While the list is impressive and encompasses a variety of social sites, there's still plenty more to be done. At Mashable, we're eagerly awaiting the first smartphone-shot Instagram of our pale blue dot from space, or the first Vine video of an astronaut floating in zero gravity (though comedian James Urbaniak has already predicted what that might look like).
Which social sites would you like to see represented by future spacefarers? Let us know in the comments below.
May 12, 2009: The First Tweet from Space
In May 2009, NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino, or @Astro_Mike, sent the first tweet from space. Massimino crafted the tweet and emailed it to the Johnson Space Center, which then posted the message to his account.
Jan. 22, 2010: The First Real-Time Tweet from Space
Thanks to new technology aboard the International Space Station, NASA Astronaut TJ Creamer (@Astro_TJ) was able to tweet this message to his followers in real time:
Oct. 22, 2010: The First Foursquare Check-In From Space
NASA Astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock (@Astro_Wheels) checked in to Foursquare upon boarding the ISS and tweeted the following:
Aug. 6, 2012: The First Tweet From Mars*
The snarky, occasionally melodramatic Mars rover, Curiosity, tweeted news of its arrival on the Red Planet in August 2012.
*Three employees at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory run the @MarsCuriosity feed, so the tweet wasn't technically sent from Mars.
In October 2012, the rover made its first check-in at Mars' Gale Crater.
Feb. 17, 2013: The First Reddit AMA From Space
The Internet's favorite astronaut, Chris Hadfield, took to Reddit to answer questions in February. His post generated more than 7,500 comments and 45,000 upvotes.
Feb. 22, 2013: The First Live Google Hangout From Space
Astronauts Kevin Ford, Chris Hadfield and Tom Marshburn answered the web's questions live in a Google Hangout aboard the ISS. You can watch the event below (the astronauts come in at around the 30-minute mark).
May 12, 2013: The First Music Video Created in Space Debuts on YouTube
As his time in space came to a close, Chris Hadfield posted this music video to YouTube. In it, he sings his own version of the Bowie classic "Space Oddity." At the time of this posting, the video has been viewed 17.2 million times.
May 31, 2013: The First Pinterest Pin in Space
Shortly after Hadfield returned to Earth, Astronaut Karen Nyberg took his spot as the social media guru of space. Currently aboard the ISS, Nyberg's social sharing site of choice is Pinterest.
Lead image: Flickr, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
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