Stephen Colbert has joined the ranks of humanity's saviors by donating his DNA for Operation Immortality, which involves sending digitized DNA into space when Richard Garriot visits the International Space Station in October.

NEW YORK, September 8, 2008 -- Stephen Colbert continues to make late-night television space history. On “The Colbert Report” in May, he was the first host in late-night to interview an astronaut, Garrett Reisman, in space. Now, Colbert plans to save humanity when he has his DNA digitized and sent to the International Space Station (ISS) with famed game designer Richard Garriott.

“I am thrilled to have my DNA shot into space, as this brings me one step closer to my life-long dream of being the baby at the end of 2001," said Colbert.

“In the unlikely event that Earth and humanity are destroyed, mankind can be resurrected with Stephen Colbert’s DNA,” said Garriott. “Is there a better person for us to turn to for this high-level responsibility?”

In October, Garriott will travel to the ISS and deposit the “Immortality Drive,” a time capsule which will include human DNA and records of humanity’s greatest accomplishments. This collection of data including Colbert’s DNA and accomplishments, along with personal messages left by visitors at www.OperationImmortality.com, will serve as a remote offsite backup of the human race.

Read more here.