*EPF509 10/22/2004
Text: American Astronaut Will Vote From Space on Election Day
(Texas lawmakers passed 1997 bill to let astronauts vote from space) (410)

Floating around the Earth 360 kilometers up, NASA Astronaut Leroy Chiao is not too far from the polls to stand up and be counted on Election Day, according to an October 21 NASA press release.

Chiao, who is a few days into a six-month mission as commander of the 10th crew of the International Space Station, will cast his vote by secure e-mail in the Nov. 2 national election. His crewmate is Russian Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov.

Text of the NASA press release follows:

(begin text)

NASA
Press release, October 21, 2004
[Washington, D.C.]

Where There's a Will to Vote, There's a Way

Floating around the Earth 230 miles up, NASA Astronaut Leroy Chiao is not too far from the polls to stand up and be counted on Election Day.

From the International Space Station, Chiao will cast his vote in the Nov. 2, 2004, national election. Chiao is passionate about his civic duty. He hopes his ballot sets an example for others. From space, he has sent a special message to all eligible voters urging them to go to the polls. His get out and vote public service announcements will air on the NASA TV Video File starting today at noon EDT.

"A few years ago, the Texas State Legislature passed a bill allowing astronauts to vote from space," Chiao said from aboard the Space Station. "Why did they go to so much trouble for just a few people? Because voting is each citizen's most basic, yet most powerful tool for participating in America's cherished right to choose its leaders."

Chiao is only a few days into a six-month mission as commander of the tenth crew of the International Space Station. His Expedition 10 crewmate is Russian Cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov.

NASA TV is available on the Web and via satellite in the continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, at 72 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7, Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz.

For NASA TV information and schedules on the Internet, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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