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A name for MSL, MSL
Stu
post Mar 23 2009, 07:04 PM
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QUOTE (mcaplinger @ Mar 23 2009, 06:54 PM) *
Again, how are you ignoring the "mysterious disappearance" aspect?


Not ignoring it, just not drawing attention to it wink.gif

Are we so superstitious that we think naming a spacecraft after an explorer who was lost - doing what they loved - will condemn the spacecraft to the same fate? I don't recall anyone suggesting the Galileo probe should be called something else because Galileo was put on trial for advancing knowledge. And no-one said "No! You can't call it that! That ship sank! It'll jinx Oppy!" when Endurance crater was named... smile.gif

Besides, isn't it a bit romantic? Or is there no place in the exploration of space for romance anymore..? unsure.gif


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punkboi
post Mar 23 2009, 07:29 PM
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QUOTE (Stu @ Mar 23 2009, 12:04 PM) *
I don't recall anyone suggesting the Galileo probe should be called something else because Galileo was put on trial for advancing knowledge.


Galileo probably should've been named something else... Maybe then, its high-gain antenna would've fully deployed tongue.gif


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mcaplinger
post Mar 23 2009, 07:39 PM
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QUOTE (Stu @ Mar 23 2009, 11:04 AM) *
Are we so superstitious that we think naming a spacecraft after an explorer who was lost - doing what they loved - will condemn the spacecraft to the same fate?

Well, maybe I'm that superstitious. Especially when a leading hypothesis about her loss is navigational error.

I won't argue semantics about whether Earhart was an "explorer" or not.

That said, I agree that it's probably the best of a bad lot.


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imipak
post Mar 23 2009, 08:18 PM
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Wow, I'm glad it's not just me that thinks they're all dreadful.

An unfortunate demise is not the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of Galileo, or indeed Endurance, but is certainly is what Amelia Earhart's associated with. Come on, let's face it, the jokes will just write themselves the moment there's the slightest glitch, issue, or hint of a problem. The only appeal of Amelia is that it has a little personality. The rest are just... beige, and a soft pastel beige, at that.

I'm with the earlier suggestion: Emmessell is better than any of those.


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climber
post Mar 23 2009, 09:43 PM
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If Wonder's choosen, it'll become Wally, and that'll not be too bad...


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AndyG
post Mar 23 2009, 09:52 PM
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Female aviators do not, of course, start and end at Earhart. Bessie Coleman arguably did more for the aviation industry - and then-current racial perceptions.

Andy
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rogelio
post Mar 23 2009, 09:59 PM
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Pursuit, Journey, Spirit … Seems a bit pallid and pointless to go on naming Martian UM spacecraft along these grandiose lines.

How about short, “endearing” names that people will easily remember and get used to using over the (hopefully!) long lives of these missions: We have our “Oppy”; now how about Wally (recalls the cartoon robot as well as a Mercury astronaut), Sally (another astronaut), Gene (as in Shoemaker), or even, yes, Amelia.

Corollary: To forestall any “giggle factor” (a la Amelia), names not be revealed by NASA until the actual successful landing.

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Geert
post Mar 24 2009, 12:11 AM
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QUOTE (imipak @ Mar 24 2009, 03:18 AM) *
Come on, let's face it, the jokes will just write themselves the moment there's the slightest glitch, issue, or hint of a problem.


I remember reading somewhere that NASA simply didn't know that Mercury was the Roman god who was leading the newly deceased souls to the afterlife... that was a hell of a blunder in naming a manned spacecraft, they were just lucky ;-)

Frankly I think I would prefer to stick with 'MSL', it's simple and it doesn't cause any confusion. Nobody bothered to give 'MRO' some kind of fancy name and there are a lot of other examples. The important thing is to get the beast safely down on Mars (and in an interesting spot please)!
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dvandorn
post Mar 24 2009, 12:27 AM
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QUOTE (AndyG @ Mar 23 2009, 10:25 AM) *
Next week Phobos-Grunt will be renamed "Moon Unit". I betcha.

Naw -- I'd more imagine "Dweezil." After all, Moon Unit in this context would actually make a certain amount of sense... laugh.gif

-the other Doug


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dvandorn
post Mar 24 2009, 12:43 AM
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The only one that I even begin to like is "Journey." Brings to mind visions of seeing what's beyond that next hill, into the valley beyond...

I especially dislike trying to name spacecraft from a list of noun-form adjectives. Curiosity? I'm sorry, I think in terms of the diffident statement "Well, that's a curiosity," referring to some trivial, poorly-understood situation or even device. You know, as in the exchange, "What is that?" "Oh, nothing -- just a curiosity."

Why not some *exploratory* names, like Perseverance, or Far Horizon? But "Curiosity" and such as names, are just... I dunno... lame.

"Vision" might be nice, if the whole point of MSL was to see things. While I'm sure the cameras will be quite important in its science mission, I don't think that "Vision" is an accurate portrayal of the geological mission of the new rover. So, I can't get behind that one, either.

"Amelia" is fine, except that there is that nasty little connection between Earhart and "mysterious disappearance." For the same reason, I don't think anyone would have suggested Nungesser and Coli for the names of the MERs, no matter how accomplished the pair were before they disappeared on their trans-Atlantic attempt. And remember, Amelia Earhart wasn't the only one on that final flight -- to honor her navigator, ought the Descent Stage be renamed Fred? huh.gif

Just my opinions -- y'all are more than welcome to disagree, as always. smile.gif

-the other Doug


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SpaceListener
post Mar 24 2009, 12:52 AM
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I tought that the mission of MSL is based on "Perception" since it is carrying the most sophisticated instrumental ever sent to the space. So MSL will be highly perceptive to its environment searching for any signs of past and present life.
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Astro0
post Mar 24 2009, 12:52 AM
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On Stu's point of engaging children in science - read this article on the girl who nominated Amelia as a name for MSL.
Regardless of how good or bad we think these names area, there are children (at least in the US) who are thinking about Mars exploration.

...and the winner is...'SCIENCE'.
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ElkGroveDan
post Mar 24 2009, 01:43 AM
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QUOTE (Stu @ Mar 23 2009, 09:24 AM) *
After a day of thinking about it, "Amelia" is definitely growing on me...

You might try some of this:




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ngunn
post Mar 24 2009, 12:16 PM
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'Roundup' - now that's a much better name. smile.gif

Aside from the disappearance issue I think it's odd to name a ground vehicle after an aviator. (The first Martian airplane maybe.) 'Louis' would be more appropriate I think:
http://www.citroenet.org.uk/resources/book...ssingsands.html

Of the finalists we're stuck with I think I could get accustomed to Adventure most easily.
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MahFL
post Mar 24 2009, 12:27 PM
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They should call her "Darwin". It was his anniversary recently. Though that won't proberbly please the creationalists........... huh.gif

"Monkeys" on Mars....anyone ?
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