Astronaut sends world's first tweets from space

Nasa astronaut Mike Massimino has 273,676 followers on Twitter

Nasa astronaut Mike Massimino has made Twitter history by sending the first ever tweets from space.

The mission specialist, who tweets under the name Astro_Mike, has already sent three messages from space.

With no mobile phone coverage in orbit, Massimino is using the Space Shuttle's radio link to the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, which posts up his messages.

"From orbit: launch was awesome! I am feeling great, working hard, and enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!" his first tweet reads.

Massimino has been sending tweets since April and has 273,676 followers. He is currently docked to the Hubble telescope where the Shuttle is installing new hardware.

Nasa is planning on using the Twitter service more often as a way of drawing attention to its work. The captain of the next Shuttle mission, Mark Polansky, has already signed up as Astro_127, and the agency is encouraging people to send him questions on Twitter.