In Houston no one can hear Colbert scream
Stephen Colbert sneaks in (and out) of Houston, shows astronauts he's got theright stuff
- Stephen Colbert interviewing NASA's Steven Lindsey
- Colbert at the Johnson Space Center
As his bloviating talk show host character from The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert can barely finish a sentence without yelling, wagging his finger or putting someone on notice.
So maybe it says a something about big Texas personalities that Colbert slipped in and out of Houston with almost no fanfare.
On Friday, Colbert fulfilled his April pledge to enter astronaut training at Johnson Space Center. Colbert stayed busy in his whirlwind trip to NASA, sitting down for an interview segment with former NASA Chief of Astronauts Steve Lindsey, watching the Atlantis space shuttle launch with employees — and yes, going through astronaut training exercises, all while wearing a bright orange astronaut jump suit.
According to tweeting NASA employees, Colbert was put through the rigors of the air chair on the Precision Air Bearing Floor (which simulates moving large objects in space without friction, working like a giant air hockey table) and the Partial Gravity Simulator (which looks like a giant Johnny Jump-Up).
No word yet on whether Colbert has the right stuff, though he's already circulating rumors he's headed for the International Space Station next.
Colbert also filmed a greeting to NASA that encouraging astronauts to use the Combined Operational Load-Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, or the C.O.L.B.E.R.T. — the treadmill on the International Space Station named after Colbert after his fans deluged the online vote to name the new section of the space station.
"I think I'm a bigger fan now than ever. You are so kind, cordial, and impressive," tweeted NASA's Lucie Delheimer.
Stephen Colbert's message to NASA: