- November 6, 2024
‘Proud To Be American’: Sunita Williams, Other Astronauts Vote From Space, Post Pic On Election Day – News18
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On US Election Day, astronauts shared a photo from space, showcasing their ‘Proud to be American’ socks and celebrating voting.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Nick Hague and Don Pettit on the ISS. [From astrohague/Instagram]
On US Election Day, astronauts Butch Wilmore, Sunita Williams and Don Pettit shared a priceless photo from the International Space Station, showcasing their colourful socks emblazoned with the message “Proud to be American.”
The photo, posted on Instagram by NASA Astronaut Nick Hague, conveyed a strong message about the importance of voting, regardless of where one is, whether sitting, standing or floating in space.
A Space Voting Tradition
Netizens reacted enthusiastically to the image, with one user praising the “Dream Team” for sending a great message. Another commented on the unique experience of voting in “Zero Gravity,” echoing the sentiment of pride in being an American.
The astronauts cast their early ballots for the presidential election from the International Space Station, joining over 1.2 million other voters in Harris County, Texas, who also participated in early voting.
How Astronauts Cast Their Votes from Space
Votes cast in space are transmitted back to Earth using NASA’s Near Space Network, a system of satellites that communicate with antennas on the ground. During a press conference from the space station on September 13, Williams spoke about the importance of civic duty, expressing her excitement about voting from space.
Voting from space has been a possibility for American astronauts since 1997, thanks to legislation passed by the Texas Legislature, which allows eligible voters who are on a space flight during the early voting period and Election Day to cast their ballots.
The first American astronaut to vote from space was David Wolf, who made history in 1997 while aboard Russia’s Mir Space Station. Since then, several astronauts, including retired NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao, have followed in his footsteps.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
