William Atkins
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 19:27
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 4
Back in February 2009 NASA asked the public to name the next module to be attached to the International Space Station. The name "Serenity" was in the lead until Stephen Colbert, of TV's Comedy Central The Colbert Report, had his viewers write in "Colbert." The name is now in first place but NASA has an ace up its sleeve. Who wins? I'm betting on Hype!
At the time when the contest was first announced, iTWire reported in its February 22, 2009 article
Public asked to name Node 3 module on Space Station,
“According to the NASA media brief Be part of history – Help NASA name the next Space Station module, 'NASA is asking the public to name the next module to be attached to the International Space Station. Now called Node 3, the work-station module and cupola will include seven windows for out-of-this-world views of Earth and outer space.'
Four names had been selected by NASA for the contest, but others would be written in. The pre-selected names were: Earthrise, Legacy, Serenity, and Venture.
The voting showed that Serenity had about 40,000 people voting for it, placing it in first place.
However, Colbert asked his legion of watchers (the Colbert Nation) to write in “Colbert.” And, they did.
In fact, 230,539 of them did so.
The media is now reporting this story. In fact, the
Colbert Nation website has already declared victory in its story: “
Breaking: Colbert Wins NASA's Node 3 Naming Contest.”
It begins,
“When the aliens come to Earth, they're going to get a taste of hardcore patriotism on their way in. "Colbert" was the top vote-getter in NASA's contest to name the new Node 3 space-module.”
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