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Space: The Final Voting Frontier

Two astronauts vote from space station

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 4, 2008 5:10 PM CST

(Newser) – Two US astronauts on the International Space Station did their civic duty from afar yesterday, casting absentee ballots from space using laptops with secure connections. Commander E. Michael Fincke and flight engineer Greg Chamitoff are the only voters who could actually see all those red and blue states, reports Bloomberg.

The Texas legislature approved in-orbit votes in 1997, clearing the way for astronauts to join the democratic process while in space. NASA used the cosmic votes to encourage other Americans to head to the polls. "If we can vote from up here, so can you,'' Chamitoff said in a message broadcast on NASA TV.

US astronaut Michael Fincke (shown here) and astronaut Greg Chamitoff voted aboard the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

US astronauts aboard the International Space Station voted using laptops with a secure connection. (AP Photo/NASA)

Flight engineer Greg Chamitoff (shown here) and Commander Michael Fincke voted aboard the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Space: The Final Voting Frontier

Two astronauts vote from space station

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Stinging Eye Almost Derails Spacewalk

Astronaut Andrew Feustel has an eye irritation ... 220 miles up

Robonaut Joining Space Station Crew

'A giant leap forward for tinmankind'

A Day Late, Soyuz Lands in Kazakhstan

Despite earlier glitch, landing goes flawlessly

Space Station Cooling System Malfunctions

Spacewalks may be necessary to perform repairs

Private Rocket Goes Into Orbit

SpaceX craft 's success boosts NASA's post-shuttle plans

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Space: The Final Voting Frontier

Two astronauts vote from space station

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

NASA • Texas • astronauts • voting • International Space Station • Election 2008 • Commander E. Michael Fincke • Greg Chamitoff

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Stinging Eye Almost Derails Spacewalk

Astronaut Andrew Feustel has an eye irritation ... 220 miles up

Robonaut Joining Space Station Crew

'A giant leap forward for tinmankind'

A Day Late, Soyuz Lands in Kazakhstan

Despite earlier glitch, landing goes flawlessly

Space Station Cooling System Malfunctions

Spacewalks may be necessary to perform repairs

Private Rocket Goes Into Orbit

SpaceX craft 's success boosts NASA's post-shuttle plans

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?