--- title: How NASA Builds Space Fandom description: How does NASA, a government agency, have a one of the largest fanbases in the world? Learn how the agency builds fandom from the head administrator of NASA himself, Jim Bridenstine! image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Bridenstine.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/nasa-administrator-jim-bridenstine-discusses-space-fandom-with-me#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # How NASA Builds Space Fandom July 24th, 2019 1 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) ![Bridenstine](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bridenstine.jpg?width=1435&height=810&name=Bridenstine.jpg) NASA is a rare government agency with a massive fan base! After a recent presentation at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC, I had the honor of discussing the amazing NASA [fanocracy](https://www.fanocracy.com) with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. We discussed the Apollo lunar program, robotic missions to Mars, how we might get back to the moon, and much more. If you want to learn more about how to build a fanbase like NASA's, I'd encourage you to check out the [first chapter of my upcoming book, Fanocracy: Turnings Fans into Customers and Customers into Fans.](https://www.fanocracy.com/fanocracy-excerpt) **I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the video.**   ![NASA t shirt](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NASA%20t%20shirt.jpg?width=200&name=NASA%20t%20shirt.jpg)NASA has built a remarkable presence on social networks. They are among the top in the world with has 31+ million [@NASA Twitter](https://twitter.com/NASA) followers and 45+ million [@NASA Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/nasa/?hl=en)followers. People all over the world wear [NASA logo t-shirts](https://www.shopnasa.com) and other gear. Imagine that... it's a US Government agency with hundreds of millions of fans around the world!   ### The Artemis project and going to the moon and mars As I write this, it is exactly 50 years to the day after the conclusion of the Apollo 11 lunar mission. The most audacious project ever undertaken by humans was a massive success. ![Artemis](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Artemis.jpg?width=300&name=Artemis.jpg)Now, fifty years later, NASA is planning to go back to the moon as part of the [Artemis](https://www.nasa.gov/artemis) project, the first step in the next era of exploration. NASA will establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon with the goal of sending humans to Mars. Like Apollo, to make Artemis a success, NASA will need to communicate the vision to the American people. Marketing will once again be critical. Here’s an interesting video about the launch of Artemis: [*We Go as the Artemis Generation*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOKKkV-30dE). *"We Go: To the Moon and on to Mars. Our generation, the Artemis generation, will explore farther than we've ever gone before. The Artemis program will send the first woman and next man to walk on the surface of the Moon and build a sustainable base to prepare for missions to Mars and beyond."* I like how this project was launched and hope to see it success in the coming decades.   [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/413105/a384ecf0-8527-465a-8578-1840a51d0495.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/413105/a384ecf0-8527-465a-8578-1840a51d0495) [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Marketing the Moon ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/marketing-the-moon) [ Public Relations ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/public-relations) [ Case Studies ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/case-studies) [ Marketing ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/marketing) [ Newsjacking ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/newsjacking) [ Brand Journalism ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/brand-journalism) [ Fanocracy ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/fanocracy) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Artemis%20earthset.jpg?width=5568&height=3712&name=Artemis%20earthset.jpg) ### Nasa’s Artemis II Lunar Mission: A PR Triumph for the USA April 11th, 2026|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/nasas-artemis-ii-lunar-mission-a-pr-triumph-for-the-usa) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fly%20me%20to%20the%20Moon.jpg?width=1500&height=1005&name=Fly%20me%20to%20the%20Moon.jpg) ### Fiction and Fact! New Movie “Fly Me To The Moon” Partly Based On My Book July 17th, 2024|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/fiction-and-fact-new-movie-fly-me-to-the-moon-partly-based-on-my-book) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Goodbids.jpg?width=1262&height=848&name=Goodbids.jpg) ### GOODBIDS Reimagines Charity Auctions April 15th, 2024|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/goodbids-reimagines-charity-auctions) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Eclipse%20viewing.jpg?width=1500&height=1130&name=Eclipse%20viewing.jpg) ### When The Experience Is Way Better Than The Hype April 9th, 2024|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/when-the-experience-is-way-better-than-the-hype) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202022-12-15%20at%207.17.45%20AM.png?width=940&height=585&name=Screenshot%202022-12-15%20at%207.17.45%20AM.png) ### Apollo 17 Was 50 Years Ago. What Can We Achieve Today? December 15th, 2022|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/apollo-17-gave-us-something-to-cheer) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/LinkedIn%20messaging.jpg) ### On LinkedIn, Educate and Inform Instead of Interrupt and Sell September 21st, 2021|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/on-linkedin-educate-and-inform-instead-of-interrupt-and-sell) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/LM%20Simulator%20cue%20cards.jpg) ### Cue Cards in 2020: A Powerful Analog Presentation Tool Adapted from the Apollo Lunar Program July 29th, 2020|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/virtual-speaking-tool-apollo-cue-card) [![How NASA sold the moon](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/How%20NASA%20sold%20the%20moon.jpg) ### How NASA Sold the Science and Glamour of Space Travel July 20th, 2019|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/how-nasa-sold-the-science-and-glamour-of-space-travel) [![Jack King post](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Jack%20King%20post.jpg) ### Fanocracy Stories: Jack King, the voice of Apollo “liftoff! we have liftoff!” July 16th, 2019|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/fanocracy-stories-jack-king-the-voice-of-apollo-liftoff-we-have-liftoff) [![Hasselblad Visor](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Hasselblad%20Visor.jpg) ### IBM, Omega, and Hasselblad Celebrate Apollo 11 fiftieth Anniversary with Exclusive Content July 10th, 2019|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/ibm-omega-and-hasselblad-celebrate-apollo-11-fiftieth-anniversary-with-exclusive-content) [![Chasing The Moon](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Chasing%20The%20Moon.jpg) ### Chasing the Moon: PBS American Experience Film I Served as Consulting Producer Premieres Today! July 8th, 2019|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/chasing-the-moon-pbs-american-experience-film-i-served-as-consulting-producer-premieres-today) [![Apollo 11 contractor press kits](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Apollo%2011%20contractor%20press%20kits.jpg) ### Amazing Content Marketing History: My Apollo 11 Press Kits Now Digitized March 14th, 2019|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/my-apollo-11-press-kits-digitized-sharing-amazing-content-marketing-history) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/cover_MtM_MedRes.jpg) ### America’s Next Moonshot, Curing Cancer, Requires Marketing January 13th, 2016|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/americas-next-moonshot-curing-cancer-requires-marketing) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Jack-King-NASAjpg.jpg) ### Learning from Jack King: Visionary of Real-Time Content Marketing June 15th, 2015|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/learning-from-jack-king-visionary-of-real-time-content-marketing) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Hyundai_a_message_to_space.jpg) ### Hyundai Sends a Message to Space April 14th, 2015|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/hyundai-sends-a-message-to-space) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604531396-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a3fd3475a6970b-400wi.jpg) ### Marketing got us to the moon 45 years ago and marketing is required to get us to Mars in the future July 18th, 2014|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2014/07/marketing-got-us-to-the-moon-45-years-ago-and-marketing-is-required-to-get-us-to-mars-in-the-future.html) [### Video of my BMA keynote Marketing the Moon June 4th, 2014|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2014/06/video-of-my-bma-keynote-marketing-the-moon.html) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601556684-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a511be1cb6970c-400wi.jpg) ### Signed limited edition copies of Marketing the Moon May 22nd, 2014|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2014/05/signed-limited-edition-copies-of-marketing-the-moon.html) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601556779-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a511bbf126970c-200wi.jpg) ### Not so new: Apps and infographics from 45 years ago May 20th, 2014|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2014/05/apps-and-infographics-from-45-years-ago.html) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604529856-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a51185d94a970c-300wi.jpg) ### Being a freak and making art March 17th, 2014|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2014/03/being-a-freak-and-making-art.html) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604510881-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a3fcc3cef0970b-320wi.jpg) ### We can put men on the moon but can’t get books off a dock February 22nd, 2014|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2014/02/we-can-put-a-man-on-the-moon-but-we-cant-get-books-off-a-dock.html) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1604512121-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e201a73d74a291970d-320wi.jpg) ### Marketing the Moon - announcing my new book! February 11th, 2014|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2014/02/marketing-the-moon-my-new-book-out-soon.html) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott" }, "dateModified" : "2019-12-06T23:09:45.536Z", "datePublished" : "2019-07-24T18:30:21.000Z", "headline" : "How NASA Builds Space Fandom", "image" : [ "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Bridenstine.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/nasa-administrator-jim-bridenstine-discusses-space-fandom-with-me", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Logo/david-meerman-scott.png" }, "name" : "David Meerman Scott" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#person", "@type" : "Person", "description" : "Marketing and sales visionary, international bestselling author of 12 books, keynote speaker in 47 countries, and advisor to emerging companies.", "email" : "mailto:David@DavidMeermanScott.com", "image" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/DMS-Homepage-Featured.jpg", "jobTitle" : [ "Keynote Speaker", "Author", "Business Growth Strategist", "Marketing Advisor" ], "knowsAbout" : [ "Content Marketing", "Fandom Marketing", "Newsjacking", "Real-Time Marketing", "Public Relations", "Sales Strategy", "Business Growth" ], "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "sameAs" : [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Meerman_Scott", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmeermanscott", "https://x.com/dmscott", "https://www.instagram.com/dmscott/" ], "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "author" : { "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#person" }, "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "SearchAction", "query-input" : "required name=search_term_string", "target" : { "@type" : "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/search?q={search_term_string}" } }, "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott" }, "dateCreated" : "2019-07-24T18:12:40", "datePublished" : "2019-07-24T14:30:21-0400", "description" : "How does NASA, a government agency, have a one of the largest fanbases in the world? Learn how the agency builds fandom from the head administrator of NASA himself, Jim Bridenstine!", "headline" : "How NASA Builds Space Fandom", "image" : [ "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/413105/Bridenstine.jpg" ], "inLanguage" : "en-us", "keywords" : [ "Marketing the Moon", "Public Relations", "Case Studies", "Marketing", "Newsjacking", "Brand Journalism", "Fanocracy" ], "learningResourceType" : "article", "name" : "How NASA Builds Space Fandom", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://413105.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/413105/_Assets/Logo/david-meerman-scott.png" }, "name" : "Freshspot Marketing LLC" }, "timeRequired" : "1 minutes", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/nasa-administrator-jim-bridenstine-discusses-space-fandom-with-me" } ```