Long Valley Woman Invited to Live Tweet Satellite Launch

Emily Bohn-Drake is about to know the true meaning of Twitterverse.

The term, often used to describe the social media platform and goings on of Twitter, is about to combine with some out-of-this-world happenings, and Bohn-Drake, of Long Valley, will be there to tweet about it.

The Morris County School of Technology social studies teacher heard about an opportunity to live tweet the Jan. 29 launch of a NASA satellite set in motion to survey soil moisture along the earth’s top layers and surface.

“I use Twitter a lot in class and in my personal life,” Bohn-Drake said. “But it was my students who really pushed me toward applying for the opportunity.”

Bohn-Drake wrote an essay and explained how her experience of being on-site and tweeting the four-day event could benefit her students.

A few weeks after applying, the decade-long Washington Township resident was notified she would join close to 50 others from around the country to take part in the experience.

Thanks to Morris County School of Technology’s professional development funds, Bohn-Drake’s airfare is paid for, and she’ll head out to Vandenberg Air Force Base just outside Lompoc, California on Tuesday. Bohn-Drake will then meet with scientists and engineers on Wednesday to go over the process.

On Thursday, the satellite will launch into orbit, and Bohn-Drake will return home Friday. The teacher will be live-tweeting the entire way.

Bohn-Drake, who has taught at the school since 2005, will be bringing an iPad and – hopefully – be able to set up a Google Hangout with her students back in Denville.

“We’ve already been told that the WiFi connection breaks up a bit during the launch phase,” Bohn-Drake said. “But we’ll definitely try to get the most of it and get the students involved.”

The mother of two with some 200 Twitter followers says she’s honored and excited to be part of such a unique experience.

To follow her and the satellite launch in real time, she can be found on Twitter at @bohndrake.

Pictured: Emily Bohn-Drake with a handful of her students at Morris County School of Technology.

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