The source of the problem may be the hydrogen fuel valve. In particular, NASA says it may not be the valve itself—which according to telemetry refused to close—but with the instrument that monitors the valve. According to NASA's Mike Moses:

When we went to close the valve (after the hydrogen tank was full) we didn't get an indication that it was closed.

Discovery is schedule to launch again on Friday, delivering a bunch of equipment to the International Space Station, including the Colbert treadmill. [Daily Mail]

I wonder where it will fit in this cool step-by-step ISS construction timeline. [USA Today]

Now, this is Steven Colbert saying: I'm go to launch me!

"Me" meaning the "Colbert"—or C.O.L.B.E.R.T.—the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill. That's the new name for this piece of hardware, known during its development as T2, the second version of the ISS treadmill

The smartypanties at NASA had to come with the acronym as a thank you—and consolation prize—for Stephen Colbert, who gave a major popularity boost to the International Space Station after participating in a contest to name the next ISS module. He actually won the contest, but NASA decided not to use it thinking it was inappropriate. At the end, NASA selected Tranquility in honor of the Apollo 11's landing site. [NASA]

Since there's very little gravity in space, is there an elastic strap to pull the guy down toward the treadmill to simulate gravity? Or is the guy just whirling his legs around like the Roadrunner? [Orlando Sentinel via TV Squad]

Of course NASA exercised the right to choose the final name, opting for the eighth most popular response according to their poll. Yeah...EIGHTH. So, the entire contest was pointless and we are left with another cliche NASA name. So, my question to you is: what should NASA have named the ISS module?

Really NASA? Really? We can see you not picking Serenity, even with its Firefly connotations, or Colbert, because it's Colbert, but picking something in the eighth slot in a poll? WHY EVEN HAVE A VOTE? What's wrong with you people, seriously. [SFGate]

It will probably not end well for the social media savvy Stephen Colbert, whose dedicated fan base was able to trounce the four "official" names that NASA provided. NASA has all but confirmed that the node will be named Serenity, which was the top vote getter amongst the NASA-sanction entries.

However, rumor is Colbert might still get his wish, sort of, as Comedy Central is pimping the Colbert Report NASA appearance as evidence of the fact that the stuffy government space agency is going to bestow a named toilet on cable's most outspoken fake news commentator. [io9]

There are some really great moments in here, as is to be expected. One thing though, Colbert must be friends, secretly, with Matt Buchanan, because he's pretty good at ignoring all real tangible communications, choosing instead to liveblog the procedings with an iPhone.

But Matt, you've got to hook up Stephen with a good Twitter app! He can't be using the web interface from an iPhone:

[Colbert Nation]

Despite beating out Serenity by more than 40,000 votes, NASA still has the right to choose the name on its own, and Colbert might just not have the, well, gravitas necessary for the job. But hey, he still gets something! They're talking about possibly naming the new toilet being delivered to the station "Colbert," so at least something up there will get his name, even if it's just where the astronauts go to drop a deuce. [MSNBC]

Out of 1.2 million votes, Colbert got 230,549 votes vs Serenity, which had about 40,000 less votes. But Colbert fans, don't be too happy yet: NASA may not name the module Colbert after all because they reserved the right to turn down the winner.

They are considering it, though. If I were NASA, I would totally do it on one condition: Get Colbert to have a two-minute NASA segment on every program. Nothing like trading geeky poetry for free advertising and promotion of the space program, specially if it's funny as only Colbert could do. [Physorg]

Unsurprisingly, Colbert sent legions from the Colbert Nation to the poll to write in "Colbert," and now it's beating Serenity by more than 15,000 votes. If you have serious issues with part of the space station being named after a Comedy Central personality, by all means go and vote for Serenity. Alternately, if you think it's hilarious that a part of the ISS could be named Colbert, go ahead and vote accordingly.

Although it isn't clear whether or not NASA will indeed follow the will of the people if Colbert wins, as there's a clause in the voting rules that states that the results "are not binding on NASA and NASA reserves the right to ultimately select a name." We'll see what happens! [AP]

Last month, Christopher Bench inducted a stick into the National Toy of Fame. Yes. A wooden stick. The kind of sticks that grow on trees, which is probably the oldest tool/gadget/toy ever invented by humans. And certainly, the most basic toy one can have. And totally free, perfect for the recession.

Colbert doesn't agree:

Wrong! Free is never the perfect price! Retailers depend on holiday toy sales but thanks to Mr. Bench here, parents are gonna realize that sticks literally grow on trees. He makes me so mad I want to poke him in the eye, with not a stick, but a Star Wars Force FX authentic replica lightsaber. (Waves lightsaber around.) Just $79.99!

Yeah. We agree with him. Screw the kids' imagination. We want toys that do pew-pew! [Star Wars Blog]