NASA has been active on Twitch since 2019, streaming events like the Starliner Crew Flight Test and building a following of over 1.3 million. However, a live broadcast from the International Space Station (ISS) has never happened - until now. On February 12, 2025, at 5:45 PM CET (11:45 AM EST), NASA will host its first-ever Twitch livestream from the ISS. The announcement was made on February 5 via the agency’s official website.
Alongside Twitch, NASA also streams live events on its own platform, NASA+. However, the ISS livestream on Twitch is specifically aimed at engaging a younger, tech-savvy audience and sparking interest in space exploration. This initiative is part of NASA’s broader strategy to expand its digital presence. Going forward, the agency plans to offer exclusive content on the platform more regularly. Brittany Brown, Director of the Digital Communications and Technology Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, shared her thoughts on the initiative:
"This Twitch event from space is the first of many. We spoke with digital creators at TwitchCon about their desire for streams designed with their communities in mind, and we listened. In addition to our spacewalks, launches, and landings, we’ll host more Twitch-exclusive streams like this one. Twitch is one of the many digital platforms we use to reach new audiences and get them excited about all things space."
Astronaut Don Pettit will host the livestream directly from the ISS. A veteran of multiple ISS missions, he is well known for his experiments with liquids in zero gravity. He will be joined by NASA astronaut Matt Dominick, who will provide support from the studio on Earth. Viewers can ask questions and learn more about life and research aboard the space station. The stream will also cover citizen science projects and STEM funding initiatives.