Write in Colbert Here - Click on this pic to vote!
According to the Associated Press, Stephen Colbert is now officially leading the votes for the NASA Node 3 naming contest. Out over more than 451,000 votes, “Colbert” is just shy of 115,000 and Serenity is now trailing at 98,641. Here’s more about the contest, and some commentary by one of this evening’s guest, William Gerstenmaier:
The name Colbert doesn’t quite fit with NASA’s theme, said agency spokesman John Yembrick. Other U.S. rooms in the international orbiting outpost are named Unity, Harmony and Destiny. However, the space agency hasn’t made any decision and voting continues until March 20.
NASA has a legalistic out. Its contest rules say voting results “are not binding on NASA and NASA reserves the right to ultimately select a name” in keeping with its best interests.
Colbert’s guest on “The Colbert Report” Tuesday was the strait-laced NASA official in charge of space station operations, William Gerstenmaier. After taping the show, Gerstenmaier wouldn’t reveal what he told the comedian but said he had fun “in an engineer way.”
Gerstenmaier said the idea behind the contest was to get people excited about space and he held out hope that NASA won’t be stuck or have to ignore the vote: “We’ve got till the 20th of the month…. I’m looking for folks to be creative and think about what they’re doing.”
Oh, trust me, “folks” definitely think about what they’re doing. Here’s hoping that NASA has a sense of humor and decides to go with the will of the people. Or at least the will of the Colbert Nation.
I certainly hope they decide to humor us! ^__^
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I hope they go with Colbert, but if they don’t and decide to go with Serenity, I’ll still be happy since I’m a big Whedon/Firefly nerd anyway!
If it’s anything other than those two though, I’ll be bummed!
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“fun in an engineer way” HAHAHA. that’s great! I’m glad that Colbert provides fun for all disciplines!
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i think the votes themselves say enough, it may be overkill to actually go through with it, it’s like the bridge. It’s kindda true that the name “Colbert” isn’t thoughtful. Stephen is just testing the devotion of “the nation”/making sure we listen or something, and I think we’ve proved it tenfold already :)
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I saw an article that said that NASA doesn’t have to use your name if you win, and that Serenity is the 2nd choice right now. Ugh, hasn’t anyone at NASA ever watched Sci Fi? Serenity is a movie about a girl who could go into these states where she kicks everyone’s ass. There is also an very corrupt government who has poisoned other planets, which created a new race of carnivores. The movie is really cool, but I don’t know if they should name a “pod” after it. Colbert rules!
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What better way to get people interested in the Space program by giving it the Colbert Bump? I haven’t watch NASA TV in a while and if they do give it Colbert’s name, then I might tune in just to ear them using his name.
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go COLBERT. 100% chance its gonna be called serenity but it would be funny and i don’t think Colbert would ever let NASA live it downco
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bad news gaiaonline is now trying to also get in on the action. I hope we will be able to maintain the lead.
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I love Stephen- but seeing as his show is going strong, and Firefly fans have years of anger at Fox for cancelling their show- I kind of want Serenity to win. So it will live on in some form.
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No power in the ‘verse will stop Serenity!!!!!!
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