Because the US gears up for its November 5 presidential election, a rare group of voters prepares to forged their ballots from an unconventional polling station – the Worldwide House Station (ISS).
Astronauts stationed a whole lot of miles above Earth are totally eligible to take part within the US elections, making certain that even these orbiting the planet can train their proper to vote.
Aboard the ISS are Boeing Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. Since their mission was prolonged in June 2024 resulting from security protocols, they’ve introduced their intention to vote within the US elections from area. They are going to be caught in area till a minimum of February 2025.
Throughout a NASA press convention in September, Williams expressed her enthusiasm for voting from orbit, saying, “It is a vital obligation that now we have as residents, and [I am] wanting ahead to with the ability to vote from area, which is fairly cool.”
Wilmore added, “It is a vital position that all of us play as residents, to be included in these elections, and NASA makes it very straightforward for us to try this. So we’re enthusiastic about that chance.”
This isn’t an remoted occasion. Astronauts have forged their poll from area since 1997, because of a Texas legislation. It was handed to assist astronauts from Texas, the place NASA’s Johnson House Heart is situated, in staying concerned within the democratic course of whereas fulfilling their duties in area.
David Wolf was the primary to vote from the now-defunct Mir House Station in 1997. Since then, a number of astronauts have forged their ballots. Kate Rubins was the final astronaut to vote from the ISS throughout the 2020 US elections.
The voting course of for astronauts is streamlined and safe. After making use of for an absentee poll, the astronauts full their ballots electronically whereas aboard the ISS. NASA then encrypts the info and uploads it to an onboard laptop, transmitting it through the company’s Close to House Community.
This info is relayed by means of the Monitoring and Information Relay Satellite tv for pc System (TDRSS) to NASA’s White Sands Take a look at Facility in New Mexico, earlier than being forwarded to Mission Management in Houston. From there, the ballots are electronically despatched to the respective county clerk’s workplaces for official processing.
NASA emphasises the importance of this connection in a current weblog submit: “Astronauts forego lots of the comforts afforded to these again on Earth as they embark on their journeys to area for the advantage of humanity. Although they’re removed from residence, NASA’s networks join them with their family and friends and provides them the chance to take part in democracy and society whereas in orbit.”