NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have expressed their eagerness to vote in the upcoming US presidential elections from the International Space Station (ISS). Their stay in space has been extended until at least February 2025, and they are excited about participating in the November elections despite being over 250 miles above Earth.
During a press conference held from the ISS, Williams and Wilmore discussed their mission and voting plans. The press conference followed the successful return of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to Earth on September 6, after more than three months in space. Starliner, which launched on June 5 and arrived at the ISS on June 6, returned without its crew, landing safely at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.
Upcoming Return and Civic Duty
Williams and Wilmore, who will continue their stay on the ISS as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew, are scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025 aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with two other crew members on NASA’s Crew-9 mission. They have requested their ballots and are looking forward to voting, highlighting its importance as a civic duty. “I sent down my request for a ballot today, and it should reach us in a couple of weeks,” Wilmore said. “Voting is a crucial role for citizens, and NASA makes it easy for us to participate.”
Astronauts have been voting from space since 1997, when the Texas legislature passed a law allowing NASA employees to vote from orbit. Williams and Wilmore, both seasoned astronauts, are adjusting to their extended mission. Williams described space as her “happy place,” while Wilmore acknowledged the challenges of their extended stay, emphasizing the importance of resilience and dedication.
They are currently aboard the ISS with seven other astronauts, continuing their mission while preparing for their return to Earth.