Instagram gets first-ever SOTU mention

Instagram got a shout -during the State of the Union.

President Obama on Tuesday evening dropped a mention of the picture-sharing service while cheering on astronaut Scott Kelly, who is about to spend a year on the International Space Station.

{mosads}“Good luck, Captain — and make sure to Instagram it,” Obama said, to loud cheers from the audience.

Kelly is the identical twin brother of Mark Kelly, another astronaut and the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.).

Kelly’s trip to the space station is part of the Obama administration’s long-range plan to eventually send a U.S. astronaut first to an asteroid and then, in 20 years, to Mars.

Last month, NASA took one major step on that journey by launching a rocket carrying an unmanned Orion capsule, which will eventually carry humans to other celestial bodies. 

Americans will go “not just to visit,” Obama said, “but to stay.”

Researchers will study how Kelly’s body responds to the extended time in space, which is longer than any American has ever spent on the International Space Station.

Instagram wasn’t the only tech company to get a mention in Tuesday’s speech.

Obama also praised Google, eBay and electric car company Tesla as examples of new economic giants where Americans need to develop new skills in order to get a job.

Tags Instagram Mark Kelly Scott Kelly Spaceflight State of the Union

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