Fake But Funny NASA Press Release
Written by Nancy Atkinson
It's nice to see the folks at NASA have a sense of humor and can poke fun at themselves. The following (fake) press release was part of the Flight Day 6 Execute Package sent up to the STS-128 crew on board space shuttle Discovery, now docked at the International Space Station: "Colbert Elated, Stewart Miffed." Also impressive is how NASA employees can seemingly come up with an acronym for almost any occasion:
Fake Colbert/Stewart press release on Flight Day-6 execute package.
Comedic news commentator Jon Stewart is apparently miffed about ISS exercise hardware being named after fellow Comedy Central commentator Steven Colbert. Colbert lobbied to get the Node 3 element of the International Space Station named COLBERT in NASA's online naming contest for the Node. Although Colbert convinced his viewers to vote for "Colbert" as the new name, helping it win by a large margin, NASA elected to name the hardware "Tranquility". As a concession, NASA decided to name the new exercise treadmill COLBERT, which is an acronym for Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill.
While the decision pleased Colbert, an irate Jon Stewart vehemently complained to the space agency that he deserved the same treatment. In response, NASA offered to name the ISS Urine Processor after Stewart, Space Toilet Environmental Waste Accumulator/Recycling Thingy. Upon hearing this, Stewart declined the offer.
Source: STS-128 Execute Packages
Filed under: NASA
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September 2nd, 2009 at 3:52 pm
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I'm starting to look chubby, maybe Colbert can lighten me up.
Your sweat made Colbert rusty.
I'm slipping all over Colbert.
Why can't I get a good grip on Colbert?
Colbert's broken
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Let's hope there's no sex on the ISS for a while. Imagine if they used the Colbert for THAT!…
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Yep – their acronymising ability never fails to impress me. I think it must be one of those nerdy things that they spend lunchtimes discussing in the staffroom. Kinda like my work really…
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:31 am
Sorry Astrofiend, but *Nerds Act Silly Always*.
Eh?
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am
Astronaut #1: – Oops, too much coffee. (COFFEE – Continental Or Free Fall Energy Enhancer.)
A #2: – You can either hit COLBERT or you will endure STEWART later.
September 4th, 2009 at 6:29 am
"Upon hearing this, Stewart declined the offer." … Of course he did. I'm sure he was pissed about the offer.