NASA Astronauts Vote from Space Amid Unexpected ISS Stay

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, stranded on the International Space Station through February, plan to vote in the US presidential election from space. Despite their Boeing spacecraft issues, they are in good spirits and emphasize the importance of their civic duty.

Stranded on the International Space Station through February, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to vote in the US presidential election from space.

"It's a very important duty that we have as citizens and (I am) looking forward to being able to vote from space, which is pretty cool," Williams, an astronaut of Indian origin, stated in a call with reporters on Friday afternoon. The astronauts participated in the press conference from the ISS, which has been their home since June due to unforeseen issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

Their midflight issues have delayed their return, originally planned as an 8-day voyage. "I sent down my request for a ballot today," Wilmore said, emphasizing the ease facilitated by NASA despite their remote location.

Since 1997, following a Texas legislature bill, American astronauts have been able to vote from space. Their secured and secretive ballot process was employed by astronaut David Wolf on the Mir Space Station that same year. Press conference disclosures mentioned the collaboration with Texas's Harris County officials in securely sending a PDF ballot to the astronauts.

The Starliner recently returned to Earth, paving the way for SpaceX's Crew Dragon, which is slated to bring Wilmore and Williams back in February. They continue to express gratitude and resilience despite the extended mission, with Williams now serving as the ISS commander.

(With inputs from agencies.)