Certain aspects of Jason Townsend’s job are quite literally out of this world.

As the deputy social media editor for NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration), Mr. Townsend helps oversee more than 480 online accounts belonging to NASA, and is responsible for coordinating how the American space agency communicates its people, missions and programs on the Web.

By making social media one of its “foundational elements,” he says NASA is fulfilling its mandate to keep people informed about the stuff it does, what it’s exploring and the discoveries it makes.

“Our perspective on space is formed by our view looking up, and what’s interesting is that the astronauts share their view looking down,” Mr. Townsend told the audience Tuesday at Canada 3.0, a two-day digital media conference held in Toronto.

...

Read more: http://business.financialpost.com/2013/05/14/nasa-wants-to-tweet-with-justin-bieber-and-lady-gaga/