NASA names cosmic treadmill after Colbert (LOL)

[underpants]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- What do you do when you're NASA and comedian Stephen Colbert wins your contest to name the new wing for the International Space Station? You name an orbital exercise machine after him.

The Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, or COLBERT, is expected to keep astronauts in shape.

With the help of a legion of fans, Colbert got the most votes in the space agency's online poll soliciting names for Node 3, which will be called Tranquility after the Sea of Tranquility, where Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

Astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams revealed NASA's decision on "The Colbert Report," which aired on Comedy Central on Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/15/colbert.nasa/i...

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"I think a treadmill is better than a node ... because the node is just a box for the treadmill," Colbert deadpanned. "Nobody says, 'Hey, my mom bought me a Nike box.' They want the shoes that are inside."

It's "one small step for NASA and a giant step for the Colbert nation," the congressman (Chaka Fattah)said, playing off Neil Armstrong's line when he first set foot on the moon in 1969.

[Soylent Brice]

1. that's bullshit. how can they change the rules like that??

fuckers. that node will forever be none as the ISS Colbert Wing to me.

[Duckhunter935]

2. Did not change the rules

I disagree with NASA but it was in the rules that they reserve the right to reject the top vote getter and use their name instead.

[Soylent Brice]

4. still not right.

[Javaman]

12. I agree, but they have that rule just incase a name like "big fat horse dick" wins .

[Soylent Brice]

17. that would be

FUCKING AWESOME!!!

[Javaman]

22. Yeah, actually, it would be. :)

[imdjh]

18. IN anticipation of it being named Howard Stern, no doubt. Can't blame NASA nt

[Posteritatis]

21. Which makes sense; imagine if the /b/tards or something stacked the vote (nt)

[slay]

9. Why did NASA even have the contest at all if they weren't going to award the winner?

OR at least the second place winner Serenity. NO - they went with the #8 choice - Tranquility. Something stinks about this - as if the name had already been, I don't know, PRE-CHOSEN by NASA. Bad move NASA! Next time, either honor the votes or JUST DON'T HAVE ONE!

That said I think Colbert handled it very well - with the jokes about the shoebox and the shoes and what not. Still - a great big F U to NASA today.

[onenote]

23. to draw attention to the space station program -- which it succeeded in doing

In the great scheme of things, if this has folks upset, they should look around at what is going on in the world that really deserves getting worked up about.

[slay]

24. Um.. I think I can handle being pissed at NASA and chew gum at the same time

Yeah it drew my attention to how incompetent NASA is in every way. They've blown up 2 shuttles, killed a dozen or so astronauts, and 1 teacher - so far. So no, this obviously isn't their biggest blunder - but fuck NASA for having a FAKE VOTE.

[onenote]

25. "incompetent in every way" LOL

The agency that developed and operated a program that successfully sent men to the moon and back in less than a decade, and that has been responsible for nearly 200 manned missions with only two fatal accidents is "incompetent in every way"? Hardly.

[slay]

26. heheh

no i exagerate - just still pissed over their FAKE VOTE. ahem..

[JVS]

15. I am trembling with rage right now!

The Colbert Nation will not take this lying down!

[Robb]

3. Disappointed, yes, but COLBERT acronym is hilarious.

[Peace Patriot]

5. Hey, nothing says "earthling" like our sense of humor. It is a message to the universe.

If they really want us to join galactic civilization, they'd better be ready for a few laughs.

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. Very cute compromise. Colbert, ever the gentleman.

He could have gotten snotty about it in his Colbert Report personna, but I think he's probably genuinely pleased. I doubt he seriously thought NASA would use the name if it won.

[Demeter]

7. If Stephen's Happy, I'm Happy

enough said

[onehandle]

8. Sucks, but I agree.

Whatever makes him happy. He deserves it.

[harun]

10. Weak

[high density]

11. WTF was the reason for the vote?

Seems like PR gone wrong. Just name it whatever you want next time, NASA. To solicit public input and then go with winner #8 makes everything seem rather pointless.

[lutefisk]

14. Kind of like the 2000 Presidential election. At least they didn't name it after Bush, though...nt

[imdjh]

19. Speaking of which, is there some way we can rename al the crap named for Reagan and Bush?

[lutefisk]

20. I haven't flown in or out of Washington National Airport since they added Reagan's name to it...

Afraid I would need the airsick bag before the plane took off.

Seriously. If there were a George Bush School in my area, there is no way my kids would attend. If I had to cross a "Bush Bridge" (sounds like a euphemism...) I'd get a boat.

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. Love them techies. And love Colbert's reaction, even more.

[Vidar]

16. Time to jump on the Colbert.

[jazzjunkysue]

27. It's the first video, with the woman with the long brown hair.

http://www.colbertnation.com/home

Hysterical.

Time to jump on the Colbert: Circular Oppositional Load Bearing Exercize Resistance Trainer.