Posted: Sat, Jan 23, 2010, 7:59 AM ET (1259 GMT)
A software upgrade now allows ISS crew members to directly access the Internet from the space station. The Crew Support LAN allows the station's crew to remotely access a computer on the ground connected to the Internet; astronauts can then browse the Internet, provided the station's communication links to the ground are active. This capability was used by one ISS crew member, T.J. Creamer, to post a message to the microblogging service Twitter on Friday morning to announce the Internet access. Astronauts had previously sent "tweets" from space, but these were emailed to the ground, where personnel then posted them on Twitter.

Related Links:

•  SPACE.com article
•  Florida Today article
•  Computerworld article
•  Central Florida News 13 article
•  NASA press release