Astronauts talk to Colbert

The Atlantis astronauts had a little fun this morning and got to show their senses of humor during an interview with Stephen Colbert for his show The Colbert Report on Comedy Central.

When asked about the tasks completed on the mission, astronaut Garrett Reisman talked about adding a new antenna and replacing six batteries on the International Space Station. However, he mentioned another task not yet discussed.

“Generally defeated the forces of evil,” Reisman said.

The six-member veteran crew also joked that they had to workout a lot to move the nearly 400 pound batteries.

Colbert wasn't buying it.

“Why would you have to workout? I thought nothing weighs anything in space,” Colbert said as the six astronauts laughed. “Busted. The whole thing is a fraud. No wonder they cancelled the program. It’s all been a sham the entire time.”

With the completion of this mission, there are just two scheduled flights left before the shuttle program is retired. After returning, Atlantis will be prepared as a rescue vehicle in case the fleet's final mission runs into trouble. There is some talk about using Atlantis to fly one additional shuttle mission, but it would require an extra $600 million to $800 million.

Colbert also asked the crew for advice on how to become an astronaut.

“I'm already practicing peeing in a tube,” he said. “I'm getting very good at that. I've worked my way up to a crazy straw.”

Astronaut Piers Sellers offered up some tips to prepare for meal time.

“Try getting the food you don't like very much and putting it in a plastic bag and make it lukewarm and squirt it in your mouth and you’ve just had lunch,” Sellers said.

At the end of the roughly seven minute interview the six astronauts all held up Colbert’s red WristStrong bracelets. Colbert began wearing them as part of his “wrist awareness” campaign after breaking his own writ.

Proceeds from the bracelets have been donated to charity.

“Thank you so much for your courageous exploration of our final frontier,” Colbert said. “Please have a safe trip home. We look forward to seeing you back on the good Earth.”

Next up is a 10 a.m. news conference where NASA officials will give a weather update for tomorrow’s landing. You can watch this morning’s news conference here live by clicking on the NASA TV box at right to launch a viewer.