How can space missions be communicated to the public and stakeholders?

Differentiate between "missions" and programs/projects/long-term objectives. For example, a "mission" to an asteroid is great for science, and has excitement factors all its own, but is part of two larger objectives: Protecting the Earth and learning about space resources. These are bona fide objectives. Clear and understandable, with no need for obfuscation, misdirection, or lipstick. In fact, many Solar System science missions stand this test. Something like firing off a SLS is NOT a mission. It's the launch of a rocket. It may or may not have any relevance in terms of accomplishing "a mission," and is not part of any rational larger plan, thus it is surrounded with a cloud of semi-fictional rationales that even the non-initiated sense.

Comms can be focused or broad in their purpose. Poor communication is often a result of the organization not have a clear purpose and desired/expected outcome for the communication. Space is not an exception and needs to understand that.

One of the most important ways to communicate the value of space is by making the activity relevant to the audience. For example, I recently gave a stats-heavy presentation about WA State's space economy & ecosystem. Many in the audience were not space-centric and could have drowned in a sea of numbers. But, I rounded it out with personal stories to help them better understand the end result of all the space activities in the state. One story about my 4-year-old grandson was how he begs his parents to stay up "late" (7:30) to see Starlink race across the night sky. It is so exciting to him that he doesn't get to do it if he is "naughty." I see this as a STEM experience and the audience loved it because they could relate to it.

L'objectif de la communication spatiale doit aussi être de faire passer la passion que porte ces métiers. Et de sortir d'un langage parfois trop technique, pour faire passer l'émotion. Le spatial est un monde ouvert à tous, et pas qu'aux ingénieurs. C'est important de le faire savoir.

The answer to how we could best communicate to (and more importantly, ENGAGE with) the general population on space exploration today and in the future may very well be by taking a look at how NASA engaged (and frankly marketed) the program in the 60’s - whether through hard-touch physical educational materials, cross promotional engagements on television and film, and physically marketed products geared at the youth for whom Artemis will be “their program.” Then, NASA astutely did these things which brought the space program into American homes, and that enthusiasm certainly helped to drive buy in from their skeptical (and tax paying) parents when support was not as high as people think it was back then. Give them some sense of ownership.

The biggest challenge of communication is translating the language of the sender (the mission operator) to the receiver (the intended audience). Every audience has its own language and its own interests. A good communicator understands this audience specific language and their potential interests in the story. Without this translation the audience will find it difficult to engage with the messages. This translation includes language, but also tone of voice, choice of words, avoidance of jargon, not using acronyms, etc. The story always need to be taylored to the audience, be it the general public, investors, students, politicians or fellow space professionals. The space sector is inheritantly bad at this.

One of the challenges of capturing the attention and interest of people and organizations is two-fold: ??Short-term thinking. Individuals: Social media posts and advertising everywhere constantly seek to grab people's attention. Business: Planning is on a monthly, quarterly and/or annual basis. Few if any 5-year or 10-year plans are disclosed, if they even exist. Long-term thinking seems to be mostly absent in society (at least in the US) . Space missions require large investments upfront with results coming much later. ??Lack of buy-in. Individuals and organizations often aren't aware how the space missions of today could enhance their quality of life, opportunities, and financial health — in their near term future and beyond.

Communicating space missions is a cosmic challenge. Complexities in technical jargon, varied audience backgrounds, and managing uncertainties demand finesse. Balancing transparency on risks and timelines is crucial. Ethical and societal concerns add layers to it, dressing questions on purpose and consequences is paramount. It's a delicate dance of translating the mysteries of space into relatable narratives while respecting diverse perspectives and navigating the cosmic unknown.

L'un des plus gros défis et de bien communiquer sur le "pourquoi". Le spatial, ce sont de belles images de l'espace ou de décollages, mais il est important que beaucoup de ses activités sont au bénéfice de l'humanité. Que ce soit pour la localisation, les télécommunications, la météo... et la recherche scientifique qui permet aussi de faire progresser la science et la connaissance sur Terre.

In case of live coverage of e.g. mars expedition it will be important to allow for viewers active participation like on line talks with astronauts which will exibit longer and longer delays as the mission proceed ito deep space.

M2CW on writing articles for the space sector: space is hard so write clearly and simply. Answer unequivocally the 5Ws and 1H. Make sure that you fully understand what you write – leave no grey areas, no expression open to interpretation. This will make sure readers understand your objectives and will help with the engagement. As a bonus it also vastly improves the translations' quality, especially in case of machine translation...

Images du JWST, décollages de fusées, photos de la Terre depuis l’ISS… le spatial génère naturellement des images spectaculaires. Une mine d’or pour communiquer et toucher un large public. Ce qu’il faut éviter, c’est de confondre communication et publication scientifique. Les détails techniques sont intéressants, mais ne parleront qu’à une faible partie du public

Par nature, le spatial génère de magnifiques images. Ne pas les utiliser comme support de communication serait une erreur. D'ailleurs, l'utilisation de caméras, type Go Pro, sur les lanceurs et véhicules spatiaux est incontournable.

Elon Musk has convinced me with his statemant about the sense of his Mars project. He said : " we live in multi verse like this- we can stay on Earth and wait for the inevitable disaster and end of our civilization or we can decide to be an interplanetary or intergalactic human kind so we have better chance of survival " i.e. my paraphrases of his concept. I think it makes sense and can convince people that this space race has some sense.

Space missions require varied communication strategies. NASA used live streams, videos, podcasts, and social media for Perseverance rover's Mars mission. ESA innovatively employed a cartoon series to simplify Rosetta mission's technical aspects. SpaceX utilized its website and social media to discuss Starlink's goals, benefits, and controversies. These diverse approaches highlight the need for tailored communication strategies to engage audiences effectively and foster understanding and support for space missions.

Un exemple que je trouve particulièrement réussi est celui de la communication de Gate Space. Les photos et les comm sont centrées sur les personnes. Appuyant le c?té humain et équipe de l’entreprise.

Je rêverai qu’une des futures missions lunaires embarque une caméra VR, avec la possibilité de vivre en direct et en immersion avec un casque VR, tous les moments, notamment l’atterrissage sur la Lune,??

Future space mission communication involves dynamic tech. AI enhances personalized, accurate communication. Augmented reality offers immersive experiences to simplify complex concepts. Social media fosters instant engagement and collaboration. These technologies signify a monumental shift in how space missions will be communicated, promising increased accessibility, engagement, and comprehension for diverse audiences.

Partnership with influencers to reach an infinite amount of different audiences will certainly help engage the public more. Unless the individual is already excited about a Space Program or Mission, you will likely not engage new public interest. Having multiple “Champions of Space Programs” will only help reinvigorate the public interest and support. You would get more public support from having Selena Gomez explain the Space Mission and overall Space Program rather than the astronauts themselves. Since everyone communicates differently, you need to utilize every platform, format, and voice you can manage.

To engage the public and stakeholders, utilize multi-platform strategies—interactive websites, podcasts, VR experiences, and compelling social media narratives. Simplify scientific details into relatable stories and visuals. Live streams, regular updates, and interactive sessions ensure real-time connections. Partnering with influencers amplifies outreach, fostering a collective journey in space exploration.