Just in time for a lazy 3-day weekend, we learn the folks at NASA have their lighter side, too.
In the Day 6 execute packages for current shuttle mission STS-128, NASA sneaked in a “(Fake News) Press Release” relating to the treadmill named for Comedy Central star Stephen Colbert. The release explained how Jon Stewart, a fellow host on Comedy Central, was “apparently miffed” about not getting anything named after him.
“While the decision pleased Colbert,” the release said, “an irate Jon Stewart vehemently complained to the space agency that he deserved the same treatment.” NASA thus offered to name an International Space Station toilet after him, calling it the “Space Toilet Environmental Waste Accumulator/Recycling Thingy,” but – for some reason – Stewart declined.
The controversial Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, or COLBERT, is NASA’s (actual) compromise when Colbert’s fans mobbed an Internet poll to name the Node 3 element of the ISS. The agency chose to name the node Tranquility, but decided to honor Colbert by naming the treadmill in his honor.
I don’t know about you, but I’m always happy to see NASA have a little fun and let down its hair, so to speak. What do you think? Should NASA stick to space, science, and seriousness? Should they have named the node after Colbert? Should Stewart have accepted the “honor”?
Photos credit: NASA