US Presidential Elections:NASA Astronaut votes from space

NASA Astronaut, Kate Robins, on Thursday voted in the US Presidential elections 2020 from the International Space Station (ISS). The NASA Astronauts shared a picture of her on their official Twitter handle, in which Robins was pointing to a hand-written sign which read "ISS Voting Booth".

In a video, posted by NASA, the astronaut said that it's important for everybody to vote. "And if we can do it from space, then I believe folks can do it from the ground, too." She further added.

According to statement by NASA, it's not the first time when Rubins will vote from the space, she had earlier voted from the ISS during the 2016 elections.

"Voting in space has been possible since 1997 when a bill passed to legally allow voting from space in Texas. Since then, several NASA astronauts have exercised this civic duty from orbit." read a statement on the space organisations website.

Full View

According to Voice of America, several NASA astronauts are registered in Texas, home of the Johnson Space Center in Houston and Texas law allows them to vote from space using a secure electronic ballot, which is relayed to their respective county clerks by mission control.

Rubins arrived in orbit for her second spaceflight on October 14 and will remain on the space station for about six and a half months. She's the first person to sequence DNA in space and is also planning to work on cardiovascular experiments and conduct research using the space station's Cold Atom Lab.

The astronaut will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of continuous human presence on the space station.

Tags: