Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams, presently aboard the Worldwide Area Station (ISS), is getting ready to vote within the US presidential election whereas orbiting Earth, roughly 400 km above its floor.
Astronauts unable to succeed in their polling stations can nonetheless take part in elections from house. Much like how individuals on Earth use absentee ballots, astronauts make the most of a system that mirrors this course of to forged their vote.
After finishing a Federal Publish Card Software to request an absentee poll, an astronaut receives an digital model. This digital poll then travels a outstanding distance—1.2 million miles—from the house station to Mission Management at Nasa’s Johnson Area Middle in Texas.
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The poll’s journey depends on the Monitoring and Information Relay Satellite tv for pc System for safe transmission. From the house station, the encrypted poll travels to a take a look at facility in New Mexico earlier than reaching Johnson Area Middle. Lastly, the poll arrives at its ultimate vacation spot: the astronaut’s county clerk, who formally counts the vote.
This technique ensures the astronaut’s vote stays confidential, as solely Williams and the county clerk have entry to the poll.
This isn’t the primary time an American astronaut has voted from house. Astronaut David Wolf was the primary to vote from house in 1997, and most just lately, astronaut Kate Rubins forged her vote from the ISS throughout the 2020 US elections.
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, presently orbiting Earth on the Boeing Starliner capsule, are anticipated to return in February, after the election.
