Sunita Williams to vote from space: How is it possible?
NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, have announced their plans to participate in upcoming US presidential election on November 5, from space. The duo is currently stationed on the International Space Station (ISS) and will remain there until February. During a press conference from the ISS on Friday, Williams expressed her enthusiasm about this unique opportunity stating, "It's a very important duty that we have as citizens and [I am] looking forward to being able to vote from space."
Astronauts have been voting from space since 1997
According to The New York Times, the practice of voting from space was initiated in 1997 when the Texas legislature passed a bill allowing NASA employees to cast their votes from space. The process involves sending an encrypted electronic ballot to the astronauts via Johnson Space Center (JSC)'s Mission Control. The astronauts then use unique credentials sent to them via email, to access their ballots, cast their votes, and send them back down to Earth to the County Clerk's office.
David Wolf was the first person to vote from space
NASA astronaut David Wolf was the first American to vote from space aboard the Mir space station. In 2020, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins also cast her vote from space while aboard the ISS. Election officials in Harris County, Texas, where NASA's Johnson Space Center is located, told NBC News that they collaborate with NASA to send astronauts a PDF ballot with clickable options. The PDF is password-protected to ensure the vote remains confidential.
Extended stay on ISS due to spacecraft issues
Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 61, have been residing on the ISS since June. Their return journey was initially scheduled to last eight days but was extended due to technical difficulties with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Despite this unexpected change in plans, both astronauts remain committed to fulfilling their civic duties from space. "I sent down my request for a ballot today," Wilmore confirmed during the press conference.
Astronauts express gratitude for extended time in space
The latest press conference occurred one week after the Starliner returned to Earth, clearing the ISS for SpaceX's Crew Dragon, which will bring the two astronauts home in February. Despite the unforeseen extension of their stay, Williams and Wilmore expressed gratitude for the extra time in space. They are currently sharing the station with seven other astronauts. When asked about their feelings regarding Starliner's departure without them, Williams stated they were responsible for ensuring its safe exit from the ISS.
