Suncoast Resident to Experience Endeavour Launch

Jennifer Huber has traveled many paths that have taken her around the world. But her next journey will be for an out-of-this-world experience.

Huber, of Port Charlotte, who formerly worked with the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau, was one of 150 Twitter users selected to attend a Tweetup organized by NASA for the final flight of shuttle Endeavour on Friday.

"I just want to soak in every moment," said Huber, 40, who is also a non-skating official coordinator for the Bradentucky Bombers Roller Derby League. "I want to hear every word from the scientists, astronauts and the stories from someone who is not in the limelight. It will be interesting to hear the little stories that make a big story."

Her journey to see a launch in person started nearly three decades ago when she took a tour of the Kennedy Space Center.

Huber worked with a recreational services company that took her to jobs at Yellowstone, Death Valley and Everglades national parks. She finally settled in Florida in 1997, but has never seen a launch up close.

While she did not get to the shuttle, she did get to meet Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin at a book signing.

But entering the NASA Twitter contest has allowed her dream to come true.

"It has childhood memories attached to it," Huber said. "I am really excited I was selected for this opportunity."

Endeavour is targeted to launch on April 29 at 3:47 p.m. EDT on mission STS-134 to the International Space Station.

As a NASA Tweetup attendee, Huber and the other 149 tweeps will interact with NASA shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts, managers and NASA’s social media team, as well as tour the Kennedy Space Center and view the shuttle launch from the media area. More than 4,100 @NASA Twitter followers applied for a slot during a 24-hour period in mid-March.

Huber was not part of the initial group selected to attended the tweetup and was placed on a wait list.

"My heart sank. I felt like Charlie Brown getting a rock for Haloween," she said.

A few days later her mood shifted once she got the email stating that she was selected.

"As soon as I saw (the email) I did the happy dance. It was very exciting, like getting the golden ticket," said Huber, referencing Willie Wonka.

Huber is the public relations manager for the Charlotte Harbor Visitor and Convention Bureau. She is active in social media, including coordinating live tweeting efforts for the 2009 Sarasota Film Festival. 

"(The tweetup) will be an awesome opportunity," Huber said. "I am looking forward to sharing the space program and how it has enhanced our lives."

Follow her Tweets at twitter.com/jenniferhuber