A name for MSL, MSL Options

[Gonzz]

Chuck Norris

[mcaplinger]

...since it's going to Mars I have to favor Bradbury.

Since it seems inevitable that we are going to have to listen to everyone's opinion about what the name should be, you might make an effort to at least conform to the rules:

"If your idea is the name of a person, the person cannot still be living."

[dvandorn]

Nuclear power and a laser beam?

"Sir"

or

"Whatever it wants to be called"

Well -- that certainly settles the question of the landing site, doesn't it? Where does such a beast land? Wherever it wants to!



-the other Doug

[climber]

Since it seems inevitable that we are going to have to listen to everyone's opinion about what the name should be, you might make an effort to at least conform to the rules:
"If your idea is the name of a person, the person cannot still be living."

Well, Bradbury would not qualify but if I understand what Doug is saying, "Ray" would

[ElkGroveDan]

Since it seems inevitable that we are going to have to listen to everyone's opinion about what the name should be

Ouch. Would you rather sit out on the porch grandpa until dinner's ready while we have this chat?

[mcaplinger]

Would you rather sit out on the porch grandpa until dinner's ready while we have this chat?

Gee, sorry, I guess you are eligible for this contest.

[djellison]

Now now children

[Guest_Enceladus75_*]

Some Suggestions:

Powell
AresLab
Barsoom
Mars Mobilab
Schiparelli
Labrover 1

[ilbasso]

Elvis. Just to hear the NASA Public Affairs person say at launch, "Elvis has left the building."

[Guest_Enceladus75_*]

Hmmmm...given the power of the MSL

What about "Predator"?

[jekbradbury]

If it was an inter-galactic rover exploring billions and billions of worlds I'd agree, but since it's going to Mars I have to favor Bradbury.

What a great idea...

- James Bradbury (no relation)

[imipak]

My ideal name would be "Lewis and Clark" but... [...]
My other choices would be "Prospector", "Seeker" and my current fave, "Pilgrim".

Prospector's been used; "Seeker"? seems a little... banal? And "pilgrim" has unfortunate religious connotations I suspect. ("Predator" definitely has overly-controversial associations IMO. Oh dear, looks like Doctor Negativity is paying a house call... sorry )

"Lewis and Clark" works for me, but apart from the objection Stu mentioned - a couple of old friends who worked on the post-production SFX for "Event Horizon" might jump to the wrong conclusion. (Random coincidence: they shared a flat with a guy who did a lot of the CGI for that BBC "The Planets" series.)

Having finally got around to reading some of his books, "Feynman" appeals to me; but his field was at the other end of the magnitudes scale. There's an asteroid, "7495 Feynman", but no surface features or spacecraft, AFAIK?

[nprev]

It's my ONLY hope at immortality: Nuclear-Powered Roving Exploration Vehicle...


Just to throw in a long-shot, how about "Heinlein"? Red Planet surely inspired a lot of kids & teens in the 50s ("Willis" has a nice ring too, but it'd never fly...would have been more appropriate for the bouncy MERs or PF.)

[CosmicRocker]

... The contest is being run by Disney, so a dignified and appropriate name is practically guaranteed.

OMG! I can only hope it will be something like Goofy, rather than My Little Mermaid. If I had to choose from among the suggestions posted here that are ineligible for the contest, I'd vote for Gort or NPREV.

[MahFL]

What about the female explorer.... Alexandrine Tinne (1835-1869)

""But none rises higher in my estimation than the Dutch lady, Miss Tinne, who after the severest domestic afflictions, nobly persevered in the teeth of every difficulty." - Dr. Livingstone, explorer and missionary."