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One small step for man, one giant check-in for mankind

Oct 22nd

Part of the founding mission of NASA is to inspire the next generation of explorers. While we’re not exploring the solar system, our idea behind foursquare is actually pretty similar: we want to help people explore. And today, that exploration includes the first extraterrestrial check-in. Yeah, a check-in from space.

Today, Expedition 25 Commander Douglas H. Wheelock became the first human to ever use a location-based service from space. Doug checked in from the International Space Station and unlocked the new NASA Explorer Badge.

We are very grateful to JESS3 and NASA for making this all happen. In the near future, explorers on earth who visit space-related places can also unlock the badge while learning about NASA history and the space program. Get started by following the NASA foursquare page

When Expedition 26 docks later this year, we’ll be excited to welcome Commander Scott Kelly to the ISS, where he’ll be competing for perhaps the most elusive mayorship on foursquare.

– Eric Friedman - Business Development, Foursquare

Posted in Blog

View Comments

  • http://twitter.com/john_brophy John Brophy

    awesome!

  • http://twitter.com/xPatriicK Patrick K. / xPatriicK

    That’s cool ;)

  • http://twitter.com/steffmn Steffen Thieringer

    crazy! ;-)

  • http://twitter.com/henrikberggren Henrik Berggren

    Wow!

  • http://twitter.com/AndrewMiguelez Andrew Miguelez

    I want that.

  • http://www.liquidskydesign.org/ Claudia

    That’s amazing! See you there Douglas @astro_wheels =)

  • http://www.liquidskydesign.org/ Claudia

    That’s amazing! See you there Douglas @astro_wheels =)

  • Shoghon

    If space was a place…he’s travelling at 18,000 mph. So is he anywhere?

  • @AndrewAndrew

    Dang! Game Over! That is one badge that we are quite jelious of! Great job Foursquare. You are winning the universe!

    @AndrewAndrew

  • @AndrewAndrew

    Dang! Game Over! That is one badge that we are quite jelious of! Great job Foursquare. You are winning the universe!

    @AndrewAndrew

  • Greg

    so how exactly does this work? I thought it was based on GPS.

  • http://twitter.com/libbytime Libby R

    So cool!

  • http://twitter.com/libbytime Libby R

    So cool!

  • http://www.youtube.com/skyundersea Joseph Bretzfelder

    I cannot get over how incredible this is.

  • http://kidintheback.blogspot.com/ JApril

    This is so great! Congrats!

  • Adam

    If one wanted to read tips on the ISS, where is the venue page?

  • http://twitter.com/rawfysh Stan Rawrysz

    How can you verify his checkin? Does GPS work in space?!?

  • http://twitter.com/AlanOfTheBerg Alan A

    True enough, if you’re using the earth as a stable reference point, which in fact, it isn’t either. Spinning earth = no ‘place’ on earth either, then compound that with wobble, solar orbit, galactic orbit, etc. etc. and … yeah, no place is actually anywhere. ;)

  • http://twitter.com/Kirtim Tim

    @shoghon Earth is also moving around the Sun at about 67,000 miles per hour.

  • http://twitter.com/bijanbwb Bijan Himself

    “Its time I accept the fact that the glory days of my life are now behind me. Just like Neil Armstrong, I went to space and now I’m back, and nobody gives a shit.” -Kenny Powers

  • http://technbiz.blogspot.com paramendra

    Congrats. Big day.

  • http://technbiz.blogspot.com paramendra

    Congrats. Big day.

  • CoreyDenis

    i have a new goal in life.

  • http://linkedin.com/in/joesorge Joe Sorge

    Oh man, now THAT’s a Badge!

  • Anonymous

    I wonder if Foursquare has a badge all set up for when one visits Heaven( or Hell, depending on how you lived your life)?

  • withanhdammit

    It should, the ISS orbits in LEO (Low Earth Orbit) at about 250 miles up. The GPS constellation orbits at the 22,000 mile range

  • http://twitter.com/billtob billy tobon

    ohhh man, I want that badge so badly… how far should I send my iPhone in a rocket to get it?

  • withanhdammit

    See my reply to @StanRawrysz

  • http://twitter.com/GordonWerner Gordon Werner

    this badge is more obtainable than the North Pole badge which was only unlockable by one person

  • http://www.bauser.com Michael Bauser

    …and as soon as the kids in Jakarta figure out how to check-in to the ISS, Commander Wheelock will be part of the first extraterrestrial Super Swarm.

  • http://www.cyclelicio.us/ Cyclelicious

    Adding to Stan’s answer: The whole purpose of GPS is to provide guidance for intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are boosted up and beyond the orbit of the ISS. GPS was designed specifically for use in low earth orbit. Space Station Internet goodness is just an extra.

  • http://www.bauser.com Michael Bauser

    Don’t be obtuse. He’s an astronaut. It’s a matter of public record when he’s in space, and this is a planned public relations event. There’s probably a line of code on Foursquare’s server just for him to let him earn that badge.

  • Rafe

    How did the geolocation (spaceolocation?) work? GPS? WiFi triangulation to the shuttle? What?

  • Jane M.

    How about a little more gender-neutrality.

  • http://www.facebook.com/hudson.horizons Hudson Horizons

    Congrats Foursquare- that is incredible! We just wrote an article about this on our Hudson Horizons Blog: http://blog.hudsonhorizons.com/Article/NASA-Astronaut-uses-FourSquare-from-Space-Really.htm

  • http://twitter.com/euthiagobiz Thiago Moura

    I want it too! lol

  • http://twitter.com/ChakatSilver Chakat Silverstreak

    … seriously? They quote/paraphrase Neil Armstrong’s famous moon landing speech, and you complain because of gender pronouns? Dislike.

  • http://www.shokk.com/blog/ shokk

    Don’t discount the location just because the location is moving.
    Even land masses are moving, so locations are really always changing.

  • iRave

    Congrats Commander Wheelock!

    Take some photos!

  • http://twitter.com/MatthewJCochran Matthew J. Cochran

    I think the point is that the space station is in fact a “place” thought its location changes.

  • http://twitter.com/MatthewJCochran Matthew J. Cochran

    I think the point is that the space station is in fact a “place” thought its location changes.

  • The Ron

    To who ever asked “So is he anywhere?” he will still be below the GPS Sats. So in a 3D world it’ll be no diff than that car someone checkin on crossing the bridge this morning for work. :-)

  • The Ron

    To who ever asked “So is he anywhere?” he will still be below the GPS Sats. So in a 3D world it’ll be no diff than that car someone checkin on crossing the bridge this morning for work. :-)

  • http://twitter.com/TodmundCole Tod Cole

    I love that this was his Newbie checkin as well. What a great first check-in. I just hope he doesn’t get his Crunked badge while he’s up there as well.

  • http://twitter.com/rbukovansky Richard Bukovansky

    And by “man” Neil meant “a human being”, not “a male”…

  • http://www.howardgreenstein.com/blog Howard Greenstein

    Other possible badges:
    Karaoke Badge
    Gym Rat (they do work out up there)
    But when Aliens show up demanding a swarm badge, it’s all over.

  • http://twitter.com/maestross maestross

    super!

  • http://bihanskyy.blogspot.com/ Yuriy
  • http://twitter.com/JustinCambria JustinCambria

    We beat the Russians! Nostrovya!

  • Tifoideac

    Yipi ka yei Motherfucker…!

  • http://www.facebook.com/dlfluegge Dave Fluegge

    Sighs, bring on the Late Night Uranus jokes…

  • http://saadullah.tumblr.com/ Saadullah Khan

    Oh you wish you had that badge!

  • http://www.bauser.com Michael Bauser

    Actually, Neil Armstrong was planning to say “a man,” referring to himself, so he was referring to a male. But that’s OK, because Neil Armstrong is, in fact, a man, if not The Man.

  • Akhb

    Looking forward to the first Foursquare SWARM @ Sirius :-)

  • Toni Blake

    I think that our brave astronauts should have a better title than Mayor for going SO FAR!
    What about “Governor”? Who is with me!

  • http://twitter.com/TotallyToni TotallyToni
  • http://twitter.com/TotallyToni TotallyToni
  • Tejoviteri

    Congratulations….!!!!!

  • Lazlo78

    “the first human to ever use a location-based service from space”

    Not entirely true as there is an active geocache on the ISS: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=611d0635-a1cf-41bc-a0cc-a6038ae288d5&log=y&decrypt=

  • http://twitter.com/ta2_o2p ta2(Shota Kubota)

    awesome!

  • http://TakeMeToSpace.com John

    That’s pretty cool.

  • Jakarta Kids

    No, we don’t found the place yet. XD

  • Groupe13 Supdepub

    Hi ! It’s a great blog !
    I proposed you to visist : groupe13-supdepub.blogspot.com

  • Mubmublophe

    hohoho

  • Fukamu

    waiting OTW Jakarta !!

  • http://twitter.com/frankanton Fotis

    hey 4sq… I went to the moon, a couple of months ago … http://foursquare.com/touch/venue/8113112.

    Do I get the badge, as well? :o )

  • buzzmania

    very good.

    http://groupe4-supdepub.blogspot.com

    very important blog about buzz marketing

    vincent to buzzmania

  • Stephaniemilliman

    nice job!

  • http://blog.foursquare.com/2010/10/25/wheels-we-read-your-check-in-loud-and-clear/ Wheels, we read your check-in loud and clear | Foursquare Blog

    [...] So cool! [...]

  • http://twitter.com/6kites 6kites

    Space always piques the imagination and this badge does too. Nice.

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