Floating around the Earth 230 miles up, NASA Astronaut
Leroy Chiao is not too far from the polls to stand up and be
counted on Election Day.
From the International Space Station, Chiao will cast his
vote in the Nov. 2, 2004, national election. Chiao is
passionate about his civic duty. He hopes his ballot sets an
example for others. From space, he has sent a special
message to all eligible voters urging them to go to the
polls. His get out and vote public service announcements
will air on the NASA TV Video File starting today at noon
EDT.
“A few years ago, the Texas State Legislature passed a bill
allowing astronauts to vote from space,” Chiao said from
aboard the Space Station. “Why did they go to so much
trouble for just a few people? Because voting is each
citizen’s most basic, yet most powerful tool for
participating in America’s cherished right to choose its
leaders.”
Chiao is only a few days into a six-month mission as
commander of the tenth crew of the International Space
Station. His Expedition 10 crewmate is Russian Cosmonaut
Salizhan Sharipov.
NASA TV is available on the Web and via satellite in the
continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, at 72
degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz.
Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz.
In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7,
Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. The
frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio
is monaural at 6.80 MHz.
For NASA TV information and schedules on the Internet,
visit:
