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Astronauts To Vote From Space

physorg.com — In this day and age, people engage in their right to vote from all over the world. But this Nov. 4, few ballots will have traveled as far as those cast by two NASA astronauts.

Who dugg this? Made popular Oct 28, 2008

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  • noupsell, on 10/28/2008, -3/+70in space no one can hear you vote
  • Dumbledorito, on 10/28/2008, -1/+62"I'm sorry Dave. I'm afraid you can't vote for that..."
  • buddamus, on 10/28/2008, -6/+59I can see it now, A computer "Glitch" grayed the vote for Obama button
  • booshack, on 10/28/2008, -5/+45"Outer space: Obama 2, Mccain 150"
  • inactive, on 10/28/2008, -0/+35I thought that we orbited at 560 km approximately. I'd imagine there are more ballots from overseas Americans that are voting and traveling farther than the astronauts' ballots.

    *pushes nerd glasses back up nose*
  • ruffdogg, on 10/28/2008, -1/+28Sounds cool, but I guess their vote is not that confidential. Doesn't matter anyway.
  • Me0wmix, on 10/28/2008, -2/+24As long as the machine isn't rigged I don't really give a *****.
  • bicyclethief, on 10/28/2008, -3/+23I'm sorry Dave. You voting for McCain can no longer serve a useful purpose...
  • sgarrity, on 10/28/2008, -2/+21Cool, but wouldn't absentee ballots have been easier?
  • Bloake, on 10/28/2008, -0/+15Well that kills the "Polling precinct is too far" excuse.
  • inactive, on 10/28/2008, -0/+13Indeed you are correct! I am in the process of calculating the average distance for infinite orbit time with a constant velocity and altitude! INTRIGUING!
  • tobypowell, on 10/28/2008, -0/+12Except when the ISS is in orbit above, say, China / Australia, when it _is_ the furthest. Depends where they are when they vote.
  • inactive, on 10/28/2008, -5/+17Obama - button - Error!
    Please - choose - another - option - Thank - you
  • LeadStripes, on 10/28/2008, -3/+15The ISS is almost as far away as Alaska.
  • MeatMountain, on 10/28/2008, -7/+18Hmmmm, the party that wants to increase funding for scientific research or the party that believes the earth is flat and comets are a sign of the end of days? Which to pick as I circle the earth in my rocket ship?
  • AWBoy666, on 10/28/2008, -1/+10Almost all of NASA's employees are voting for McCain since Obama wants to drastically reduce their budget:

    http://actionforspace.blogspot.com/2008/01/obama-r ...

    Just so you guys know......LOL.
  • creepydarkwurm, on 10/28/2008, -1/+10220 miles = 354 km
    *tapes his glasses together and then pushes glasses back up nose*
  • protodon, on 10/28/2008, -1/+9Same thing happens every 4 years.
  • Panda200x, on 10/28/2008, -0/+8It probably won't be a computer glitch, their votes will "burn up" on re-entering the atmosphere instead.
  • xapkbob, on 10/28/2008, -0/+7VOOTES IIINN SPAAAACE!!!
  • allengeer, on 10/28/2008, -0/+7i meant velocity, but even high speed land vehicles fail to approach 17,000 mph. Altitude would also be correct.
  • opnickc, on 10/28/2008, -2/+9". . . one."?
  • CynicalTyler, on 10/28/2008, -0/+6"You have selected, Ron Paul"

    "No I didn't!"

    "Oh you're right, that does seem ridiculous"
  • drlha, on 10/28/2008, -0/+6Correct sir. ISS is in a very low low earth orbit. 560km is typical for satellites in LEO.
  • allengeer, on 10/28/2008, -0/+5looked at these comments just to see how far down before someone made the astute observation that the space station only orbits at the distance of around 250 miles, and that the Imperial Army in Iraq sends their ballots much further. Now, had they said that few have cast their ballots from such a high velocity, it would have been true.

    *pushes taped nerd glass back up on nose*
    *checks pocket protector to ensure he has all the pencils he will need for today's work*
  • geodebug, on 10/28/2008, -2/+7makes sense, McCain's campaign has been quite spacey.
  • inactive, on 10/28/2008, -3/+8"Outer space: McCain 2, Obama 150"
  • jgzman, on 10/28/2008, -0/+5AOL, I think.
  • nmezib, on 10/28/2008, -1/+6yeah, and mail it in from space?
  • penneyisok, on 10/28/2008, -0/+5The same "idiots" who are digging you down?
  • Anonchrist, on 10/28/2008, -1/+5I think it is a reference to the voting machines that were not calibrated correctly and the McCain button overlapped the Obama button, but I guess the people that found the comedic reference funny could be idiots... Maybe you could rig the buttons so that the digg and bury are reversed.

    Digg - button - Error!
    Please - choose - another - option - Thank - yo
  • nmezib, on 10/28/2008, -1/+5haha

    if it were up to the GOP, the astronauts would have to fill out an absentee ballot and mail it in.
  • inactive, on 10/28/2008, -0/+4Or XBox Live
  • wsuvtx, on 10/28/2008, -0/+4Except for last time
  • Ganpachi, on 10/28/2008, -1/+5That doesn't seem right....

    Oh well. It obviously isn't part of a larger pattern.
  • Katana314, on 10/28/2008, -0/+4I think you mean altitude. Though I suppose velocity is correct too. (until someone votes from inside a superspeed land vehicle)
  • LogicBomB, on 10/28/2008, -0/+3Oh Common, pretty much the SAME thing is in the first 20 replies.
  • mattrmcg, on 10/28/2008, -1/+4(Insert obligatory change from Obama to McCain on electronic ballot here)
  • zeazzz, on 10/28/2008, -1/+4Beware of intergalactic hax from alien Obama haters.
  • WELLDOITLIVE, on 10/28/2008, -0/+3200?
  • booshack, on 10/28/2008, -3/+6So astronauts have even greater view of russia/even greater foreign policy experience?
  • glinsvad, on 10/28/2008, -2/+5You had me at Dave
  • strictnein, on 10/28/2008, -0/+3Fine, it was a lame joke then. Who was the party trying to restrict overseas absentee military votes in 2000? But I know. It's much more fun to project.
  • AtraNoxVII, on 10/28/2008, -0/+3Yes Obi Wan.
  • BrendanJB, on 10/28/2008, -2/+5"You have selected, McCain"

    "No I didn't!"

    "I'm almost certain you did"
  • inactive, on 10/28/2008, -2/+5"You have selected, Obama"

    "No I didn't!"

    "I'm almost certain you did"
  • stuffradio, on 10/28/2008, -0/+3I forgot about the year 200
    *facepalm*
  • borez, on 10/28/2008, -0/+3These are not the candidates you are voting for
  • compguy101101, on 10/28/2008, -1/+4Now are they going to send a faulty voting machine up to them or are they going to fly on down to use the faulty voting machine? Maybe a meet in the middle edge of space type situation.....
  • ParaSwarm, on 10/28/2008, -0/+2The question is, are Obama and McCain going to rocket up there to campaign and secure the space vote?
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