According to BlockBeats, on November 6, astronauts Butch Wilmore, Sunita Williams, and Don Pettit participated in early voting for the U.S. presidential election while aboard the International Space Station. This information was confirmed by the Harris County Clerk's Office in Texas.
The astronauts shared a photo on Instagram on election day, showcasing socks adorned with elements of the American flag. Two of the astronauts' socks bore the phrase 'Proud to be an American.' This gesture highlighted their patriotic spirit even while being miles away from Earth.
The process of casting votes from space involves transmitting the ballots back to Earth using the same data transmission methods employed for communication between the space station and mission control. The votes are sent through NASA's Near Space Network, ensuring that the astronauts' participation in the democratic process is both secure and efficient.