Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) says 'democracy in orbit' should govern NASA's new space nodule

Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) says every vote counts, even if it's for an election that is out of this world.

"NASA decided to hold an election to name its new room at the international space station and the clear winner is Stephen Colbert," said Fattah. "The people have spoken, and Stephen Colbert won it fair and square - even if his campaign was a bit over the top."

NASA offered four possibilities in its on-line contest to name Nodule 3 in the new international space station, but also allowed write-in votes. Colbert generated 230,539 write-ins with appeals on his late-night "Colbert Report."

A member of the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for NASA, Fattah was quick to add: "This is not about dollars, but it's got to make sense to the American people. We insist on democracy in orbit."

NASA says it reserves the right to choose an appropriate name and disregard the final vote count. NASA's top choice Serenity finished 40,000 votes behind Colbert. If NASA has its way and grounds Colbert, Congressman Fattah said, "When Americans look to the sky, they may see 'Serenity' but there will be no serenity here on earth."

Source: Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

CONTACT: Debra Anderson of the Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah,

+1-202-225-5402, +1-202-225-5236