On Election Day, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Sunita Williams, and Don Pettit celebrated their civic duty from the unique vantage point of the International Space Station (ISS). Dressed in red, white, and blue socks, with two pairs adorned with the message “Proud to be American,” the trio shared a patriotic photo on Instagram, underscoring their commitment to participating in democracy—even from 250 miles above Earth.
Casting ballots from orbit, the astronauts used NASA’s Near Space Network, which employs satellites to transmit data between the ISS and ground antennas on Earth. This connection allowed their ballots to be securely sent to election officials, ensuring their votes counted in real time.
Williams, in a press conference from the ISS held in September, highlighted the significance of civic duty, emphasizing the unique privilege and responsibility of voting from space. Her words resonated with the tradition that began in 1997 when astronaut David Wolf became the first U.S. citizen to cast a ballot from space. The process was established through a 1997 Texas law that allows U.S. astronauts to vote from orbit, as most astronauts reside near the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Since Wolf’s pioneering vote, many astronauts, including retired astronaut Leroy Chiao, have continued this extraordinary practice, blending patriotism with the spirit of exploration. For the astronauts, voting from space symbolizes their deep-rooted connection to Earth and their unwavering dedication to democratic principles, even as they orbit far from home.