Sunita Williams to cast her US election vote from space, here is how | World News – Times of India

Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams, presently aboard the Worldwide House Station (ISS), is getting ready to vote within the US presidential election whereas orbiting Earth, roughly 400 km above its floor.Astronauts unable to succeed in their polling stations can nonetheless take part in elections from area. Just like how individuals on Earth use absentee ballots, astronauts make the most of a system that mirrors this course of to solid their vote.After finishing a Federal Put up Card Utility to request an absentee poll, an astronaut receives an digital model. This digital poll then travels a exceptional distance—1.2 million miles—from the area station to Mission Management at Nasa’s Johnson House Middle in Texas.Full coverage-Trump vs Harris for US presidentThe poll’s journey depends on the Monitoring and Knowledge Relay Satellite tv for pc System for safe transmission. From the area station, the encrypted poll travels to a take a look at facility in New Mexico earlier than reaching Johnson House Middle. Lastly, the poll arrives at its ultimate vacation spot: the astronaut’s county clerk, who formally counts the vote.This methodology ensures the astronaut’s vote stays confidential, as solely Williams and the county clerk have entry to the poll.This isn’t the primary time an American astronaut has voted from area. Astronaut David Wolf was the primary to vote from area in 1997, and most not too long ago, astronaut Kate Rubins solid her vote from the ISS through the 2020 US elections.Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, presently orbiting Earth on the Boeing Starliner capsule, are anticipated to return in February, after the election.