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Need to use the john? Why not use the Colbert instead? Future astronauts may have that option, as NASA is reportedly considering naming a toilet on the International Space Station (ISS) after the comedian.

A NASA poll to suggest a name for a new ISS node was flooded with write-in votes for "Colbert" after the Colbert Report host urged his viewers to stuff the virtual ballot box. ("We have a great relationship," he told Colbert Nation, "you love naming things after me, and I love telling you to do it.") When voting ended Friday, Colbert had beaten "Serenity," the leader among non-write-ins, by more than 40,000 votes, according to space.com. (Colbert launched a similar crusade this past winter called "Operation Humble Kanye," seeking to catapult his own A Colbert Christmas album over West's number-one-ranked 808s & Heartbreak on the iTunes Music Store charts.)

Colbert had gone so far as to submit an on-air challenge to William Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for space operations, to uphold the results of the poll if he prevails in his campaign. "Well, we're going to have to go think about that," Gerstenmaier parried.

SPACE.com now reports that "NASA insiders" say the agency might be more amenable to naming a small but vital part of the station after Colbert—the toilet. Agency spokesperson John Yembrick demurred on the subject but couldn't resist cracking a joke himself. "As for the toilet rumor," he told SPACE.com, "we don't want to flush away any goodwill by announcing something before we are ready."

Photo of Colbert by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons

6 Comments

1. 1. jamerz3294 09:00 PM 3/24/09

   That would certainly be a solid choice! So let's not waste this opportunity, or we'll just piss it away... ;p

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2. 2. rshoff 09:30 PM 3/24/09

   Oh come on Stephen Colbert, I love you too (really). But space development should be about community. You're brilliant to create such a loophole in the poll, and NASA was short sighted not to create rules, but in the name of humanity, let Serenity win!
   

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3. 3. mako2424 11:18 PM 3/24/09

   The point of the online poll was to raise awareness of the space program and, by allowing the winning name to stand, NASA would be doing just that. "Serenity" appeals to the space nerds that already live and breath NASA while "Colbert" reaches an entirely new demographic.
   
   Come on NASA, don't be sticks in the proverbial mud.

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4. 4. egk 03:04 PM 3/25/09

   While Steven probably shouldn't get the space station module named after him, the chosen name, Serenity seems more appropriate for a mausoleum than space station. I'd write more here, but I have to go take a Colbert.
   

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5. 5. LarianLeQuella 05:31 PM 3/25/09

   I think that Mr. Colbert would appreciate the humour in his own sarcastic way. Besides, this way he'll have something MORE to talk about. ;)
   
   Oh, NASA DID take this situation into account: "NASA will take into consideration the results of the voting. However, the results are not binding on NASA and NASA reserves the right to ultimately select a name in accordance with the best interests of the agency, its needs, and other considerations. Such name may not necessarily be one which is on the list of voted-on candidate names. NASA’s decision shall be deemed final."

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6. 6. Quinn the Eskimo 01:48 AM 3/31/09

   So let's see; If a Colbert is flushed within a vacuum,
   
   DOES IT MAKE ANY NOISE?

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