A Twitter person jeopardized her NASA internship after unknowingly insulting a member of the Nationwide House Council.
In August 2018, a screenshot purportedly exhibiting an ill-fated trade between a just lately employed NASA intern and Homer Hickam, a member of the Nationwide House Council that oversees NASA, was broadly circulated on social media together with the declare that it resulted in Naomi’s preemptive firing:
These tweets, in addition to the Twitter deal with @NaomiH_Official, have been deleted shortly after this trade went viral, however various information shops managed to archive them through screenshots. Hickam and Naomi have declined requests for comment from the media.
So was this trade actual? Did Naomi actually lose her internship after insulting a member of the Nationwide House Council?
Hickam, a former NASA engineer whose 1998 memoir Rocket Boys served as the idea for the film October Sky, confirmed that the trade was actual on his website. Hickam defined within the since-deleted weblog submit (an archived version may be seen right here) that he did not imply to get Naomi in hassle when he responded to her tweet, and that he has since reached out to NASA on her behalf.
Hickam’s submit is reproduced in full under:
Social Media
Not too long ago, it was known as to my consideration on Twitter that somebody was being employed by NASA and that they have been utilizing the F-word in a tweet about it.
I am a Vietnam vet and by no means offended by the F-word. Nevertheless, once I noticed NASA and the phrase used collectively, it occurred to me that this younger individual would possibly get in hassle if NASA noticed it so I tweeted to her one phrase: “Language” and meant to depart it at that.
Quickly, her mates took umbrage and stated plenty of unkind issues however lengthy after I used to be gone as I instantly deleted my feedback and blocked all involved.
Later, I discovered she had misplaced her supply for an internship with NASA. This I had nothing to do with nor may I since I don’t rent and hearth on the company or have any say on employment in any way. Because it turned out, it was as a result of NASA hashtag her mates used that known as the company’s consideration to it lengthy after my feedback have been gone.
She reached out to me with an pointless apology which I heartily accepted and returned with my very own. After speaking to her, I’m sure she deserves a place within the aerospace business and I am doing all I can to safe her one which will probably be higher than she misplaced. I’ve additionally talked to the parents that needed to do along with her internship and made completely sure that there will probably be no black mark on her file.
— Homer Hickam
It is unclear if Hickam was profitable in getting Naomi a place at NASA. The Twitter account @NaomihOfficial, purportedly Naomi’s new account, posted a message on 23 August 2018 expressing hope that she would possibly get her internship again:
I believe I’d get my internship once more thanks all for the assist
— Naomi ? H (@NaomihOfficial) August 23, 2018
A spokesperson for the NASA Johnson House Middle knowledgeable us that the Universities House Analysis Affiliation is liable for administrating the internship program. Whereas they could not touch upon this particular incident, they did inform us that interns obtain a guide which incorporates tips on learn how to behave on social media:
The Universities House Analysis Affiliation has accountability for administering the internship program however does check with NASA relating to its choice choices. Privateness rules prohibit the company from discussing particular particulars. Interns do obtain a guide that features expectations relating to use of social media. If a scholar is rejected they’ll reapply for this system.
