Colbert scrubs online NASA mission

WASHINGTON (AP) - March 24, 2009

NASA's online contest to name a new room at the international space station went awry. Comedian /*Stephen Colbert*/ won.

The name "Colbert" beat out /*NASA*/'s four suggested options in the space agency's effort to have the public help name the addition. The new room will be launched later this year.

NASA's mistake was allowing write-ins. Colbert urged viewers of his /*Comedy Central*/ show, "The Colbert Report" to write in his name. And they complied, with 230,539 votes. That clobbered Serenity, one of the NASA choices, by more than 40,000 votes. Nearly 1.2 million votes were cast by the time the contest ended Friday.

NASA reserves the right to choose an appropriate name. Agency spokesman John Yembrick said NASA will decide in April, but will give top vote-getters "the most consideration."

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