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

[TFlint]

Liberals like Colbert because he is funny. Conservatives like Colbert because they think he is serious.

[jena132]

so true

[Durango]

if any conservatives like Colbert they have serious comprehension problems.

What part of calling Sean Hannity an "Obsequious Crack Licker" is difficult to understand?

Or claiming that the Republican Congressman from Florida's Grandmother F*&Ked an alligator?

Conservatives don't have a sense of humor.

That's why there are no good "conservative" humorists. (Will Rogers, Mark Twain, Garrison Keiller, etc etc etc)

[oldcliche]

I'm just glad Hannity aplogized to Rush. That would've ended poorly for Hannity, if he had not done so.

[mko9d]

Do they really think he is serious? Which conservatives? Can't be all of them. That would be hilarious.

[fbr79]

I love the things Colbert and his writers come up with in his show, this, the turtle race, the wrist bracelet. It's just genious.

[Amalek]

They guys picture is in the Smithsonian. How could Colbert not represent all that is American about America?

[freethinker1]

Hey NASA. Tax payers voted for Colbert. So you should honor that. You do work for us and your program is funded by us. So get with the F@$*ing program.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

Many of the votes came from outside the US.

[AZ AF VET]

That's ok, it is the International Space Station.

[therealtruthteller]

I am not American and I live outside the US and I voted for him.

[Agent420]

Hay, don't worry. I just wrote to the White House via their website; www.whitehouse.gov/contact and instructed the President to name the module Colbert.

[Islandtime]

In honor of a true space case it should be named-- Nancy.

[fiftystarsmike]

As in Pfotenhaur?

[JZ735]

NASA has full discretion to name the station...­it won't be democratically decided...­I like Colbert, but this won't happen.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

Hmm...I would hope that NASA will consider giving the other ISS partners a say in the naming process.

[Amalek]

To each its own room. Maybe Kazahkstan can name theirs Borat?

[Amalek]

party pooper

[tc2598]

NASA's also got a huge, existing PR problem, since a lot of people are wondering if multi-billion dollar remote control cars on Mars is really a priority right now.

Here's what they'll do. They'll officiallly name it Serenity and then they'll hang up a placard or something with Colbert on it.

I'm pretty sure that's what they did with the Hungarian bridge.

[Kelly Lincoln]

I have friends in Budapest, and, the Magyar-Hid (Bridge) is called 'Colbert Hid", by the press.at least it was a couple of years ago.

[Aramingo]

Shortly after the bridge vote, the Hungarian Ambassador to either the US or the UN, I forget which, was on the show. The fellow explained that in order to have a bridge named after you in Hungary, there were a number of criteria that had to be met. One criterion was that you must be dead. But, as for the space station, geez, why not call it Liberty Belle 7, or something like that.

[AudsMom]

If they don't use COLBERT for the name, then I'm shutting NASA down! I am not quite sure I have the authority to do that but I am going to try!
COLBERT!!!!!

[smapdi]

Voted first for Venture and then Colbert.
The Venture Bros is awesome and Venture would be a great name. Stephen Colbert was on the Venture Bros too - before he got too famous and busy.

Professor Impossible come back to us, we miss you.

[mredder4]

YES!!!

It's very sad that Stephen Colbert can't find time to do some voice acting for The Venture Brothers anymore. The replacement doesn't bring the same easy pomposity and arrogance to Mr Impossible that he did during his run. Colbert is one of the princes of deadpan delivery (Did you see how casually he threw in the word "twatted" on the Today show?).

[Tulka2]

I voted for Colbert just because, like him, i like to jack the system, but you know what would be really gallant (and "Colbert" is nothing if not gallant)? It would be beautiful if Colbert said they should name the new room "Michelle O."

[rjmiller]

I couldn't possibly think of anything that would be more out of character.

[Tulka2]

Well, the more i think about it... you are right. It would be out of character. Now that i am told it's the waste storage unit....? How about the "Gingrich"?

[Kelly Lincoln]

are you aware that Node 3 is the waste storage Node?

[Tulka2]

No....?! Really? I didn't see that. Yikes. Scrape that idea.

[Foreground]

Combine the two into some sort of weird phrase, ala a Culture Ship, though it might make the print a bit small.

For Example: On the Serenity of Colbert, or River Colbert.

[rovezaleeker]

NASA needs to honor the bargain that they have made with the people of this great land. Name it after Colbert! Whatever happened to truthiness in this country?

[weatherwaxx]

If they took a poll and Colbert won, they should honor their own system.

Besides, if NASA wants publicity--and it coudn't hurt -- enlisting SC as a cheerleader would be a GREAT idea.

[guayasamin]

Colbert should broadcast from space in his new module!

[Wilson201]

Sweet!

[Guy Incognito]

Failure by NASA to use the name COLBERT will surely put them at the top of his "On Notice" list. It won't be "Bearrrrs!!!" anymore.

"NASAAAAAA­AAAAAA!!!!­!"