NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and will likely remain there until February next year. However, despite their extended stay due to technical issues with Boeings Starliner, the astronauts will still participate in the upcoming 2024 US presidential election in November.Voting from space: A tradition since 1997Since 1997, NASA astronauts have been able to vote from space, ensuring their participation in the democratic process even while orbiting Earth. The process involves transmitting electronic ballots from Earth to the ISS, where astronauts fill them out and return them via encrypted transmission. These ballots are then processed by local county clerks. “I sent down my request for a ballot today,” Wilmore shared in a press conference. Its a very important role that we all play as citizens to be included in those elections.Challenges of life in spaceDespite calling space their “happy place,” both astronauts admitted that their time aboard the ISS has been challenging. Originally scheduled for a short-term mission, theyve now been stranded for several months due to technical problems with Boeings spacecraft. “Its been quite a journey over the last three months,” Wilmore remarked, acknowledging the “trying” moments but expressing confidence in Boeings commitment to resolve the issues.Sunita Williams, who is more experienced in space station life, noted that despite the difficulties, the transition back to station life was relatively smooth, stating, “This is my happy place. I love being up here in space.”
