Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert has been talking up the International
Space Station recently, but NASA is iffy on naming a new module at the outpost after
the comedian even if he wins the U.S. space agency's online naming contest.
On a recent episode of the "The Colbert
Report," the eponymous host dismissed NASA's suggested name Serenity,
which led
the online voting as of last week, and challenged the U.S. space agency to
honor the popularity of his TV persona in the final outcome.
"Will you now commit to naming that
module Colbert if I win your online vote?" Colbert asked William
Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for space operations, during a
satellite interview on Tuesday.
"Well, we're going to have to go think about that as
we get all the votes and we see where we are," Gerstenmaier responded,
noting that the voting continues until March 20.
"That's NASA's problem," Colbert said.
"You guys think too much."
The rules on NASA's contest
site say that the U.S. space agency will take the popular vote into
consideration as part of its naming process, rather than as the ultimate
deciding factor. That contest focuses on naming Node 3, a new space module set
to launch later this year to the space station.
Node 3 holds eight fridge-sized racks for many of the
space station's life support systems. It also houses an observation deck that
would provide a working station for controlling the International Space
Station's 57-foot robotic arm — not to mention excellent views for space
station residents.
Colbert also brought up the future manned launches
planned by nations such as India and Iran, and brought up the recent
launch of NASA's Kepler space telescope.
"Folks, it is crucial that America leads way in
finding habitable planets," Colbert noted. "Personally, I cannot wait
to taste Ewok."
Colbert and Gerstenmaier discussed how NASA's new
planet hunter will try to spot Earth-like planets by the dimming of a
star's light from the planet passing in front.
"America finds itself in a new space race,"
Colbert said. "Parents, start naming your kids 'Buzz.'"
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