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Sunita Williams to cast vote from space for 2024 presidential election
Stranded in space due to delays with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, the astronauts are expected to remain on the ISS until February 2025.
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore / Image- Screen grab from Press conference from ISS
Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams, along with fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, is set to cast her vote from the International Space Station (ISS) in the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Stranded in space due to delays with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, the astronauts are expected to remain on the ISS until February 2025.
“I sent down my request for a ballot today,” Wilmore said during a press conference. “As a matter of fact, they should get it to us in a couple of weeks and absolutely, yes, it's a very important role that we all play as citizens to be included in those elections.”
LIVE: From the @Space_Station, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams discuss their ongoing mission and answer questions from the media: https://t.co/ytifGf22Gn
— NASA (@NASA) September 13, 2024
Since 1997, NASA has enabled astronauts to vote from space, using an encrypted system to transmit ballots to and from the ISS. Once filled out, the ballots are securely sent to Earth and processed by county clerks.
While technical issues have extended their stay on the ISS, Williams shared a positive outlook on the situation. “This is my happy place. I love being up here in space,” she said, reflecting on her experience. However, both astronauts acknowledged that their mission has been more challenging than expected.
“It’s been quite a journey over the last three months. We’ve been involved in every step of assessing our spacecraft,” Wilmore added. “And it was trying at times. There were some tough times all the way through.”
The astronauts also emphasized the importance of maintaining physical fitness in space, especially given the extended stay. “If we don’t work out every day, we’ll lose bone density,” Williams said, explaining their daily exercise routines, which include cardiovascular exercises and strength training.
Wilmore added, “There are no joint aches in space because there’s no pressure on any joint, which makes it very easy.”
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