NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have announced their intention to participate in the 2024 US presidential election from space, despite being stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) through February.
Williams and Wilmore, who have been aboard the ISS since June, plan to cast their ballots in the November 5 election, making use of provisions that allow astronauts to vote remotely.
In a press conference held from the ISS on Friday, Williams, who is of Indian origin, expressed her enthusiasm about the unique opportunity.
“It’s a very important duty that we have as citizens and (I am) looking forward to being able to vote from space, which is pretty cool,” Williams said.
Her sentiments were echoed by Wilmore, who added, “I sent down my request for a ballot today. It’s a very important role that we play as citizens including those elections, and NASA makes it very easy for us to do that.”
Williams and Wilmore’s plans come after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered issues midflight, preventing its return from an eight-day mission.
The Starliner’s malfunction necessitated the use of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which will bring the astronauts home in February.
Until then, they are continuing their mission alongside seven other astronauts on the ISS.
American astronauts have been voting from space since 1997, following the passage of a Texas state law that allows NASA employees to vote while in orbit.
David Wolf was the first to cast a ballot from space that year on the Mir Space Station. In 2020, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins also exercised her voting rights from the ISS.
Election officials in Harris County, Texas, where NASA’s Johnson Space Centre is located, have coordinated with NASA to facilitate the voting process for astronauts.
They provide a password-protected PDF ballot that astronauts can fill out electronically, ensuring the confidentiality of their vote.
During the press conference, Williams and Wilmore discussed their current situation.
Williams expressed her feelings about the recent departure of the Starliner, saying, “We were watching our spaceship fly away.” She and Wilmore had been tasked with ensuring the spacecraft’s safe departure.
Despite the delays and complications, both astronauts maintained a positive outlook. Williams, recently named the commander of the ISS, reported being in good spirits.
“We’re here with our friends, we’ve got a ride home,” she said, adding that she is looking forward to the next few months aboard the ISS. Wilmore also remained optimistic, acknowledging the challenges they face.
“This is not easy,” he said, referring to the complexities of their mission and training.
“90 per cent of our astronaut training is about preparing for ‘the unexpected’,” he added.
When questioned about their feelings towards NASA and Boeing, Wilmore firmly stated, “Absolutely not,” emphasising their commitment to the agency's values and mission.
Follow us
