NASA Astronaut Plans To Cast Her Ballot From Space

Topline

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, who is training for a six-month mission scheduled to launch in October, says she plans to cast her next vote from space.

Key Facts

Key Background

Rubins joined NASA in 2009. She completed her first spaceflight in 2016 as an Expedition 48/49 crew member. She launched in July and spent 115 days in space, where she conducted two spacewalks totaling 12 hours and 46 minutes before returning to Earth in October. She became the first person to sequence DNA in space. On her next mission, she will conduct research using the Cold Atom Lab and will work on a cardiovascular experiment that builds on an investigation she completed during her previous mission. 

Surprising Fact

In 1997, NASA astronaut David Wolf became the first American to vote in space. “When you’re so removed from your planet, small things do have a large impact,” he told NPR.

Further Reading

NASA astronaut plans to cast her ballot from space station (Associated Press)

Astronaut Casts Election Day Vote From International Space Station (Forbes)