NASA astronaut Sunita Williams will make history by voting in the upcoming US presidential election from space, while aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Orbiting about 400 km above Earth, she joins a select group of astronauts who have cast their ballots from space.
Williams will begin the process by submitting a Federal Post Card Application to request an absentee ballot, similar to US citizens voting from abroad. Once the electronic ballot is received, she will fill it out using the ISS computer system.
NASA’s advanced Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program will facilitate the secure transmission of her vote. Using the Near Space Network, Williams’ completed ballot will be transmitted through the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system to a ground antenna at NASA’s White Sands test facility in New Mexico.
After reaching the ground, the encrypted ballot will be relayed to NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston. From there, it will be securely forwarded to the relevant county clerk for processing. Only Williams and the clerk will have access to the ballot, ensuring complete integrity of her vote.
This unique process demonstrates NASA’s commitment to keeping astronauts connected to Earth, ensuring they can participate in civic duties like voting, even while in space. Sunita Williams’ vote from the ISS is a shining example of technology bridging the gap between space and democracy.
