Sat Sep 14 04:46:48 UTC 2024: ## Astronauts to Cast Votes from Space Station in Upcoming US Election
**Houston, TX** – Two veteran astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, will be casting their votes in the upcoming U.S. presidential election from an unusual location: the International Space Station (ISS), 250 miles above Earth.
The astronauts, currently stationed at the ISS, confirmed their plans during a press conference. Due to delays with their Boeing Starliner mission, they will miss the opportunity to vote in person on November 5th.
“I sent down my request for a ballot today, as a matter of fact, and they should get it to us in a couple of weeks,” Wilmore shared, highlighting the ease with which NASA facilitates voting from space. “It’s a very important role that we all play as citizens to be included in those elections, and NASA makes it very easy for us to do that. We’re excited for that opportunity.”
Williams echoed Wilmore’s sentiment, stating, “It’s a very important duty, and I’m looking forward to voting from space.”
The astronauts did not disclose their voting preferences, but the opportunity to cast a ballot from space has been a reality for NASA personnel since 1997. Astronaut David Wolf was the first American to vote from space aboard the Mir Space Station, and in 2020, astronaut Kate Rubins also voted from the ISS.
Williams and Wilmore have been living aboard the ISS since June, following what was initially planned as an 8-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The mission was extended due to multiple helium leaks causing thruster malfunctions, preventing their return. NASA has announced that their return will be delayed until February 2025, when they are expected to travel back on a SpaceX spacecraft.
Despite the extended stay, both astronauts remain positive and focused on their responsibilities, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability that characterize their careers.
First Piper 