NASA Faces Showdown With Colbert Nation

Make him earn it! Put him through a mini version of the astronaut exam for knowledge, physical capability, and psychological characteristics.

If he does well, put his name on it! If not, he can exit in a humorous and graceful manner.

And record it for all the world to see. Seriously - that would be the kind of fun, entertaining face that NASA could really do well with. :)

I can see now - cue the Rocky theme as Colbert is training for the exam... ;)

Best,
Shalin

NASA should name Node3 "Bears" and still name the new toilet Colbert. Then Colbert will always be in a bear.

At this point, most people are going to _expect_ NASA to name it after him and if they go with Serenity, everyone's gonna have the image of daipers in their head even if they didn't know the brand before.

So I think NASA is kind of in a corner here.

I know they _can_ name it whatever they want and I'm familiar with the disclaimer, but enough noise has been made and frankly nobody cares about the disclaimer.

Colbert does this & SPB wins Mission Madness. Think PAO has learned its lesson about crowdsourcing winners?

I'd like to point out that the node in question houses the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA). Thus, Colbert may contain lots of astronaut urine in addition to the routine Colbert Bullshit.

NASA should name the toilet after Colbert

How many middle school kids (who are the target, think STEM)
have their own TV show and a legion of mindless followers to vote for their selection , this has gone on long enough and Colbert has gotten his PR. Our tax dollars payed for the node and more of us don't watch Colbert than do, Adios you egotistical jerk.

Mr. Clardy, Stephen Colbert's character is a *parody* and, ironically, in relation to your disturbingly angry comments, he's a parody of a mindless follower.



Those folks at NASA made their bed by allowing write-ins and now they either have to lay in it or look foolish for walking away.



And as I mentioned here in the previous discussion of this, it's quite possible that a Scientology "god" (which was leading the vote before Stephen Colbert drew attention to it) might have won if it weren't for Mr. Colbert actions.



That also would have made the press... but it all would have been a lot less fun and a lot more uncomfortable.

Adios you egotistical jerk.

You realize that Stephen Colbert and the Colbert Report is satirizing people just like you, right? Or did you miss that?

The node, the module, the cupula, the life support systems and the toilet, this is the best thing that ever happened to NASA, and they're going to screw it up if they don't get together with his staff and work it out. They could name the cupula 'The Colbert Room' and the module 'Serenity' and everything else would work out just fine. If they were really smart they would fly him up there for a live show in the cupula.

He's a journalist, remember? Or did you miss that?

Keith,

I realize that capitalism is somewhat out of style these days, but why shouldn't NASA inform Viacom that they will be glad to RENT the naming rights to Node 3 to them in exchange for, oh, $10m a year towards Centennial Challenges.

Where's Dan Tam when we need him?

- Jim

Editor's note: I agree. But then Google would swallow up Viacom, so it would be easier just to sell the naming rights to Google in the first place.

Coca Cola, Campbell's Soup (tomato, of course), Budweiser, the list goes on and on... Nodes could all be themed to their cans. I think it's funny, but I'm not kidding. :)



And yes, Google; They should just sponsor the whole damned station.



Also, I completely agree that it would be a brilliant move to fly Colbert up there for a few shows!

No sympathy here - Name the node "Node".

In the realm of public outreach, be carefull what you ask for - NASA folks need to focus on retring the shuttle and getting on with the Nation's business of getting out of low Earth orbit - NOT public relations.

What a stoogie dilema NASA finds themsevlves in.

Serenity?

We shouldn't use that name. Doesn't anyone remember what happened a few years ago involving an astronaut and adult diapers? Just imagine the negative PR.

Colbert?

Think about this--if we find a way to use 'Colbert', he will mention NASA and the station everynight for a long time--tons of free PR directed to an audience NASA needs to reach.

I suggest to go ahead and name it Colbert. Whatever his motivation he's shown far more interest in space the rest of the media, and was also able to mobilize an impressive number of voters online. We're probably going to get far more public support thanks to this type of media than through the traditional(yawn) tv networks.

This is exactly the PR we need.

I agree with impressed lowly contractor; nobody pays any attention to NASA unless they blow something up. Except Colbert.

Colbert is giving loads of attention to a NASA success, the Space Station. He's even done an interview with someone on the station. Who does that these days, seriously?

Furthermore, NASA will paint themselves as humorless blobs if they don't go with it.

If its a really big deal, just don't allow write-ins in the future, or screen the write-ins.

This one's a no brainer! (Rather like the fictional persona of the Host, as I understand it? We don't get the program over the Pond.) Name the node after Colbert for a "year and a day" and then get the Viewers to vote for a serious name that fits the nature of the Node. The gag has worked and if Steven is a true space buff he will lead his fanbase to a good decision. RESULT Double the publicity for no cost at all.
Trust NASA to b@@locks public outreach. But the paramount question on my mind is: What's Steven Colbert's real name?

The Mars Society has some ideas on this:

Mars Society Christens “Colbert Mars Desert Research Station”

http://www.marssociety.org/portal/groups/PR_MarketingTF/press-releases-1/mars-society-christens-201ccolbert-mars-desert-research-station201d/

"Furthermore, NASA will paint themselves as humorless blobs if they don't go with it."

As opposed to what they will paint themselves if they do go with it! Humorless blobs look dandy by comparison. If we're after humor, a Spam logo would go well on it. Potted meat, and all that.

Love the Colbert show from space idea!

He should also have to demonstrate his "right stuff" by sampling the urinator-recylater water too & flavored with Tang for the prez (gosh, that's if they ever get that dern thing to work right - can't believe the cosmonauts would really want to "borrow" the US can, probably not the "reclaimed" water though)!

Most TV things like this would have been a planned PR stunt - would NASA PAO have the smarts to have actually planned this whole thing with Colbert & Serenity?