Stephen Colbert Wins NASA Contest -- But Will They Name Space Station After Him?

WASHINGTON — NASA's online contest to name a new room at the international space station went awry. Comedian Stephen Colbert won.

The name "Colbert" beat out NASA's four suggested options in the space agency's effort to have the public help name the addition. The new room will be launched later this year.

NASA's mistake was allowing write-ins. Colbert urged viewers of his Comedy Central show, "The Colbert Report" to write in his name. And they complied, with 230,539 votes. That clobbered Serenity, one of the NASA choices, by more than 40,000 votes. Nearly 1.2 million votes were cast by the time the contest ended Friday.

NASA reserves the right to choose an appropriate name. Agency spokesman John Yembrick said NASA will decide in April, but will give top vote-getters "the most consideration."

Comments

[Khirad]

Hey Huffpost, why not add him calling out Gabrielle Giffords? So, I'm biased -- and from the sucky half of Tucson! Colbert Nation Arizonans in the 8th unite! Write your congresswoman!

[blackfriday1978]

I voted for him and NASA better pick "Colbert"!!!

[OpalSky42]

"Colbert" would be a good name! Go NASA. (I worked at a hospital that decided that 'Psychiatric Wing' was a downer of a name, so they changed it to "Institute for Living." WTF???)

[oldcliche]

NASA may have fancy rockets, but we have guns and religion. That module better be named Colbert, or there could be some inquisitions opened concerning this matter.

[Durango]

NASA would be wise to name it after Colbert.

He has an intelligent audience who think space stations are cool.

I know I do. And I voted for him.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

NASA may be on to something.

If DC WASA needs to raise money, it could do so by offering to name its wastewater system after Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, etc., by taking bids. The name with the most bids would win.

Now, if DC WASA would get on this and if each of us would chip in a quarter, ...

[kittyarmy]

I voted! But I have my doubts on whether NASA will actually pick Colbert.

[mediamarv]

Better than the original NASA offering: Men's

[AnotherMcIntosh]

"If voting could change the system, it would be illegal."
— Theodor Adorno

[jena132]

This is hysterical­........if I'd known about it I would've voted for him! NASA better allow it. Whats the harm?

[Hirnlego]

Next up... get a painting up there.

[zenwhenicanbe2]

I voted. Colbert better be the name, cuz them's the rules

[AZ AF VET]

I wouldn't hold my breath having it named Colbert. The University I went to in the early 70's built a brand new Science Building and they had a naming contest. We chose "Lenny Bruce Memorial Hall" by a vast margin. The administration didn't like it so to this day it is still "The Science Building" at Northeastern Illinois University. Sorry Steven, I voted for you.

[AmbivalentGuy]

I don't know what it is with IL but at Northern
there's a building called the Psychology/Math
Building and the Math department isn't in it.

[BlackJAC]

Considering the runner-up was "Serenity," after the ship in FIREFLY, I gotta go with "Colbert."

[shockmagog]

What? I had no idea. The cowboy western space series?

Then by all means name it Colbert.

[IMissAmerica]

He already has a species of spider and a baby eagle named after him, and an ice cream flavor. So why not a room in the space station?