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Will Colbert get his node?

Email|Link|Comments (8) Posted by Joanna Weiss March 31, 2009 10:55 AM

I'm so glad nothing happened in the world while I was off on maternity leave. I'm only sorry I missed the story of "The Colbert Report" fans and the beautiful prank they played on NASA: taking over the agency's contest to name a "node" on the International Space Station. NASA had suggested something goopy like "Serenity." Instead, the public voted for "Colbert." It's a feat that would make the Vote for the Worst folks proud, and Stephen Colbert, as expected, is playing it for all it's worth. (See below.) I, for one, would love to see a sign that NASA has a sense of humor. What do you think?

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Space Module: Colbert - Democracy in Orbit

comedycentral.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

NASA Name Contest

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8 comments so far...

Hey....Serenity was a good name - after a particularly good show that was canceled way to soon....and it went with the already existing names. ;-)

Posted by Tracy March 31, 09 12:16 PM

Uh.... "Serenity" isn't a 'goopy' name. It's in reference to the movie Serenity. You know, the one that stemmed from the sci fi series Firefly?

Geez. Do you guys even watch TV here?

Posted by James O'Hearn March 31, 09 01:00 PM

Nasa should definitely show a sense of humor and name it after Stephen Colbert.
They should take advantage of the free publicity and use the opportunity to regain the interest of young people in the space program.
After all, he won fair and square.

Posted by Marla March 31, 09 02:10 PM

I was on board with the prank, until he announced that the competition was Serenity. Colbert is great, but he's still got a long way to go before I vote for him over Firefly...

Posted by kacy March 31, 09 06:53 PM

Uh....James O'Hearn, Colbert is in reference to the Colbert Report. You know, the one that stemmed from The Daily Show? Geez. Do YOU even watch TV?

Colbert is a fine name. Was Adama ever an option? ;-)

Posted by Matt March 31, 09 07:25 PM

Yes, I know a lot of people chose "Serenity" to honor Firefly. But given that the other two nodes are "Unity" and "Harmony" -- and that NASA's other suggested names were "Earthrise," "Legacy," and "Venture," it was just too easy. AND goopy.

Besides, Joss Whedon has really lost me so far with "Dollhouse."

Posted by Joanna March 31, 09 08:58 PM

Considering that each of the other NASA approved choices only got about 5% of the vote and Serenity got about 70% of the vote, I think it's safe to say that naming the Node "Serenity" would be on par with naming the Node after a television personality.

Posted by Gracie April 4, 09 12:16 PM

I hope you realize you Firefly fans that NASA didn't choose the name serenity after the show. People are just relating it to Firefly because they are fans of that show. However, if you do look at the other names like Unity and Harmony they are going for a zen naming scheme that makes their project look like the pinnacle of mankind. Of course they could have named it after the show, but you have to realize that using such a common term like legacy or venture has a lot of references as many writers have used them in their works. I doubt NASA came up with Venture from the Venture Brothers off of cartoon network. Finally, naming it Serenity to honor Firefly is not honoring Firefly because no one will get the connection

Posted by adam April 8, 09 11:00 PM