Bobak Ferdowsi works for NASA and is a flight director on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity mission. Few people — fewer than 200 on Twitter — knew him before Sunday night. He cuts his hair differently for each mission, though, and tonight he became known. With a mohawk featuring maroon highlights and shaved stars on the side, Ferdowsi came only second in attention paid to the Mars Curiosity rover landing itself. He went from 200 followers to more than 8,000 10,000 during and after NASA's livestream of the landing, which was shown live on several cable news networks as well.
And, he tweets sweet tweets:
So incredible to be a part of this team and all that we've accomplished. Impossible not to be an emotional wreck. #msl #jpl #nasa #curiosity
So incredible to be a part of this team and all that we've accomplished. Impossible not to be an emotional wreck. #msl #jpl #nasa #curiosity-- Bobak F.
Here's more Bobak ...
Meme Bobak
Tweeted-Photo Bobak
Smiling Bobak
Nervous Bobak
Teamwork Bobak
Busy Bobak
Talking Bobak
View this video on YouTube
Celebrating Bobak
UPDATE: Ferdowsi noted his new-found Internet fame in a late-night tweet:
Internet, you win this round. I'll be back later, but thanks so much. Now going to celebrate with all my friends and team! #msl
Internet, you win this round. I'll be back later, but thanks so much. Now going to celebrate with all my friends and team! #msl-- Bobak F.
MORE FROM BOBAK: The BuzzFeed interview. Yes, really.