November 5, 2009
Stephen Colbert, television host and political satirist, has been working really hard to make a name for himself. In October of 2007, he (unsuccessfully) tried to become a presidential candidate. Earlier this year he called upon his fans, known as the Colbert Nation, to write him in as the name for the newest wing on the International Space Station. They came through for him and he was the leading vote getter. Ultimately NASA did not name it after him but did name a treadmill in his honor. In his latest bid for immortality, he has stepped in to be the primary sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Speedskating team in the 2010 Winter Games.
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August 25, 2009
The International Space Station has added a new wing and NASA created a contest to give it a name. Comedian, Stephen Colbert and his loyal fans wrote-in nominations of his name (Colbert) and that entry received more votes than any other. Unfortunately for him, NASA exercised the contest’s fine print stating that it would choose the name that is ultimately in the best interest of the agency. Therefore, they chose the name Tranquility in honor of The Sea of Tranquility where Apollo 11 landed on the moon 40 years ago. But in recognition of Colbert and all the attention he brought to the project, they have named the space station’s new treadmill after him. It is COLBERT: Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill. At 1:36am today, the space shuttle is scheduled to launch and transport 15,200 lbs of scientific equipment and COLBERT to its new home on the international space station.
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July 20, 2009
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin helmed the Apollo 11 mission to the moon with Armstrong’s iconic comment, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. The initial and subsequent moon landings have often been cited as the “greatest technological achievement in human history.” In preparation for the moon landing’s 40th anniversary, NASA officials looked for the tapes of the historic moment and discovered they were missing. Richard Nafzger investigated and learned the original tapes were erased and taped over in a money-saving effort several years before. Fortunately, quality copies were discovered at CBS News and Johnson Space Center and underwent digital restoration by Lowry Digital. The full set of recordings will be released in September.
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April 20, 2009
NASA recently launched an opportunity for people to vote on the name for a new International Space Station module. The agency provided a few options and then a blank where voters could submit their own suggestion, though NASA would make the final decision. Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert encouraged fans to submit his name and NASA announced “Colbert” was the top vote receiver. Last week astronaut Sunita Williams appeared on Colbert Nation and announced the new module would be named “Tranquility” in honor of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility. Williams then surprised fans by stating that the space station will include a Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (acronym COLBERT).
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