Steven Colbert wants a space station module named after him

March 8, 5:21 AMScience Geek ExaminerVanessa Richins

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Comedian Steven Colbert is in the news again.  This time, he's looking to win NASA's naming contest for their newest space station module, Node 3. 

The node connects to the space station and, as NASA explains, will be "providing a perfect location to observe and photograph the Earth," and "the cupola also will contain a robotics workstation, where astronauts will be able to control the station’s giant robotic arm."

 For the second time in history, NASA is asking for the public's help in naming its space station hardware.  The first was when they held a contest where 2200 students named Node 2 "Harmony".

NASA has suggested four names themselves - Earthrise, Legacy, Serenity and Venture.  There is, however, also an option for suggesting a name.  

An early favorite suggestion from the public was "Xenu" - a central figure in Scientology.  However, this changed with Tuesday's edition of "The Colbert Report".

On the show, Colbert urged his viewers to suggest "Colbert" as the name for the space station module.  By Wednesday, he had become the new leader of the suggested name board.  

"The NASA-chosen name Serenity, which shares the name of a spaceship in the cult favorite television series "Firefly", continues to maintain a huge lead with more than 66,000 votes, according to NASA. But a surge of votes has given Colbert 29,000 in just two days, enough for second overall. The trailing vote-getters include Xenu (9,200), Earthrise (4,200), Legacy (3,500) and Venture (3,200)."

"We think that the 'Colbert' entry is great, and are excited that Mr. Colbert and his audience have taken an interest in the contest," said Jacob Keaton, space station program analyst and manager of the Name the Node Contest.

I am proud to say that I have cast my own vote and wrote in Colbert's name.  Sorry Serenity - I love "Firefly", but voting for Colbert is just too much fun. After I voted, it said that 277,622 people have participated - wow! He must be much higher by now.

Ready to  vote?  Go to NASA's contest page to enter.  You can vote once a day until March 20, 2009.  Be sure to check out the clip from the show below.

Vote Colbert!