A NASA astronaut votes from an area bunk on Election Day 2022
Not less than one poll this yr got here out of this world.
NASA astronaut Josh Casado zipped up the sleeve of his Worldwide house station (ISS) bunk mattress, making a modified US midterm election voting sales space with house Tuesday (November 8).
“I have been voting my complete grownup life, however this yr’s voting sales space undoubtedly took the cake,” joked Casada, a U.S. Navy captain. tweet (opens in a brand new tab) exhibiting a closed bunk. “I am very grateful to everybody — particularly the Democrats — for permitting me to be part of this necessary course of this yr.”
Cassada and different American astronauts at the moment aboard the complicated are eligible to vote by absentee poll. The method includes the astronaut filling out a Software for a federal postcard (opens in a brand new tab) voting earlier than the beginning. (That is just like the absentee poll utilized by different US residents, however focused at populations dwelling abroad or, in Cassada’s case, in house.)
On the topic: Election 2022: How astronauts vote from house
Different US voters on Expedition 68 embrace Kjell Lindgren (Taiwanese-born American), Loral O’Hara, Bob Hines, Jessica Watkins (first black feminine in lengthy flight), Nicole Mann (first Native American lady in house) and Frank Rubio (first Salvadoran American in house).
“I am unable to verify if the folks on board will vote — that must come from them,” Dan Huot, NASA’s head of public affairs for the ISS, advised Area.com when requested if others had been planning to. Huot confirmed, nevertheless, that the absentee voting course of had beforehand been utilized by a NASA astronaut Kate Rubin in 2020 is an identical to what’s potential in 2022.
I have been voting my complete grownup life, however this yr’s voting sales space undoubtedly ranks first. So due to everybody – particularly Democracy – for permitting me to be part of this necessary course of this yr. pic.twitter.com/l9r83wxoxjNovember 8, 2022
NASA has been excessive on the political agenda in latest months. US President Joe Biden confirmed the company’s dedication to stay on the ISS till 2030. passage of the CHIPS Act this summer time. NASA’s 2023 price range acquired a Asking for $23 billion from the White Home, in addition to a promise to ship astronauts to Mars by 2040.
Continued Russian invasion of Ukraine nevertheless, which started in February, severed most house partnerships apart from the ISS and set the tone for tense worldwide occasions. One of many newest examples was threats from Russia that it will hearth on US industrial satellites Ukraine from orbit, prompting a response from the White Home.
The federal government-sponsored house navy has additionally been fairly lively lately with the creation of the brand new United States Area forces unit endeavor to offer “important intelligence on menace techniques, overseas intentions, and house actions.”
Elizabeth Howell is the co-author of “Why am I taller (opens in a brand new tab)?” (ECW Press, 2022; with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams), a ebook about house drugs. Comply with her on Twitter @howellspace (opens in a brand new tab). Comply with us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in a brand new tab) or Fb (opens in a brand new tab).
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