Hosting the 2017 Eclipse: Lessons from NASA's WESTPrime Program

As a Program Manager for NASA's WESTPrime program, I had the incredible opportunity to spearhead the hosting of the 2017 eclipse for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. This endeavor was a complex undertaking that involved numerous vendor partners, stakeholders from NASA, and meticulous planning to ensure its success. In this article, I'll share insights from this remarkable experience, highlighting the challenges we faced, the strategies we employed, and the gratification derived from overcoming obstacles to deliver an unforgettable event.

The Challenge:

Hosting an event of such magnitude required careful orchestration. We needed to build a mobile app and develop a separate frontend for viewing the eclipse, ensuring seamless accessibility for millions of viewers worldwide. Collaboration with vendors like Akamai, Limelight Networks, and AWS was essential to customize our solutions and accommodate the anticipated surge in demand. However, despite our meticulous planning, we encountered challenges as we approached the actual hosting phase.

Navigating Challenges:

One of the major hurdles we encountered was the unexpected surge in demand, which dwarfed our initial hosting estimates. This surge resulted in unforeseen charges for hosting streams, necessitating swift adjustments to our budget allocations. Additionally, telecom companies experienced traffic issues, threatening the seamless delivery of the eclipse viewing experience. However, through proactive communication and rapid problem-solving, we addressed these challenges promptly, ensuring minimal disruption to the event.

Key Successes:

Despite the challenges, the hosting of the 2017 eclipse emerged as a resounding success. Notably, approximately 90% of adults in the US witnessed the eclipse online, marking it as one of the most concurrently watched webcasts in history with more than a million concurrent user. By some measures it was also most economically hosted Webcast of this scale.

Leveraging the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud and partnering with Akamai Technologies and Limelight Networks , we seamlessly streamed the event to a global audience, reaching millions of viewers across major news and social media platforms. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication of my team and subcontractors, whose exemplary efforts were instrumental in bringing our vision to fruition.

Lessons Learned:

Reflecting on this experience, several key lessons emerged. Firstly, meticulous planning and collaboration are paramount when undertaking complex projects of this scale. Additionally, flexibility and adaptability are essential when navigating unforeseen challenges, ensuring that setbacks do not derail the overarching objectives. Moreover, effective communication and rapid problem-solving are critical in mitigating risks and maintaining stakeholder confidence throughout the project lifecycle.

Gratitude and Acknowledgment:

I am immensely grateful to all those who contributed to the success of the 2017 eclipse hosting. From my dedicated team and subcontractors to our invaluable vendor partners and stakeholders from NASA, each individual played a pivotal role in realizing this monumental achievement. Their unwavering commitment, professionalism, and collaborative spirit exemplify the ethos of NASA's mission to push the boundaries of exploration and scientific discovery. I also want to thank our NASA partners who gave us opportunity to work on this program Mamta Patel Nagaraja Ian Sturken Ken Fang Dr. Safi Mojidi, D.Sc. Buyju Palatty Jerry Thomas James Gordon Rajkumar Thandavan Naresh Patel Iresha Ricks Laurie Gamble, PMP, DASM

Most importantly I want thank Mary Phillips who helped us to get the word out with Manuel Miranda and Raj Ananthanpillai

Conclusion:

Hosting the 2017 eclipse for NASA's Science Mission Directorate was undeniably one of the most gratifying experiences of my career. Through meticulous planning, collaboration, and perseverance, we overcame challenges and delivered an unforgettable event that captivated millions around the globe. As we reflect on this achievement, let us carry forward the invaluable lessons learned and continue to push the boundaries of possibility in our pursuit of scientific exploration and discovery in hosting Solar Eclipse for 2024