This could have been really cool.

Maaaaybe I’m biased because Serenity/Firefly is one of my favorite films/tv shows (mmm Joss Whedon). But really, think about it: a little-sci-fi-tv-show-that-could gets cancelled, then gets turned into a little-sci-fi-movie-that-could, then has the chance to get turned into a space station! (Sort of.) What a great way to pay homage to both the series and its dedicated fans.

I love the idea of NASA engaging with the public by letting them name the next space station. But I think it backfired somewhat when Stephen Colbert invited his viewers to submit his name as a write-in, and boy did they do so with gusto. Out of 1.2 million votes, 230,539 went to Colbert. That’s 40,000 more votes than Serenity, folks. Which is fine, really, but now the whole thing feels like one big joke, rather than the intimate exchange it was meant to be. [Physorg.com]