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Posted by: serpens Mar 6 2021, 10:23 PM

Not sure about the morphing of Perseverance to Percy. For me the rovers, like ships, have all been female and Perseverance's role is a gatherer, traditionally a female role.

Posted by: fredk Mar 7 2021, 12:07 AM

I think Percy could be short for Persephone as well, so female. Alternatively Persie or Posey.

Posted by: serpens Mar 7 2021, 12:24 AM

Well since the rover isn't named Persephone I would run with Persie although Vera fits.

Posted by: MahFL Mar 7 2021, 12:43 AM

It was Adam Steltzner himself who referred to her as Percy.

"The name Percy is a girl's name of French origin."

Posted by: JRehling Mar 7 2021, 01:43 AM

I spell it P-e-r-s- [autocomplete suggests the entire correct spelling] [I click OK].

Posted by: HSchirmer Mar 7 2021, 09:52 AM

Or could go with "Vera."

Posted by: David Caso Mar 7 2021, 11:14 AM

Percy works. I like Percie.

Can't think of a prominent Percie in general life or literature. Percy reminds of the Weasleys.

Vera Rubin is hanging around with Curiosity.

Posted by: djellison Mar 7 2021, 03:13 PM

Then call it Perseverance.

Problem solved.

FWIW - The name ‘Percy’ was adopted by almost everyone I know on the project pretty much immediately after it was announced.

You’re gonna HATE what everyone calls the Helicopter.....so you should probably start getting used to Ginny now.

Posted by: pbanholzer Mar 7 2021, 04:16 PM

[quote name='djellison' date='Mar 7 2021, 09:13 AM' post='250674']
Then call it Perseverance.



FWIW - The name ‘Percy’ was adopted by almost everyone I know on the project pretty much immediately after it was announced.That was my firwt thoguht


That was among my first thoughts when I heard Perseverance. And it was the nickname of Percival Lowell.

Posted by: climber Mar 7 2021, 04:18 PM

There’s no girl in France called Percy. The only word I can think about that could be pronounced this way in French is persil (L not pronounced) which means parsley.

Posted by: pbanholzer Mar 7 2021, 04:19 PM

[quote name='djellison' date='Mar 7 2021, 09:13 AM' post='250674']


"FWIW - The name ‘Percy’ was adopted by almost everyone I know on the project pretty much immediately after it was announced."


That was among my first thoughts when I heard Perseverance. And it was the nickname of Percival Lowell.

Posted by: mcaplinger Mar 7 2021, 04:36 PM

I still call it M2020 and probably always will, just like I still call the earlier mission MSL.

Posted by: volcanopele Mar 7 2021, 05:36 PM

That's just the name people have adopted because no one wants to have to type out Perseverance EVERY time.

I have quite a few male tarantulas with female names because they were named when they were just small spiderlings, before I knew what they were. They don't care what they are named and I doubt Percy cares what nickname people give it: it is a non-sentient kinda-robot not even on this planet.

Posted by: djellison Mar 7 2021, 05:54 PM

Well yeah - M20 and MSL to differentiate between charge codes, and then 'the rover'

Posted by: centsworth_II Mar 7 2021, 07:00 PM

I wouldn't worry trying to make the nickname look feminine if a Samantha can be nicknamed Sam. I googled Percy as girl's name. Lot's of discussions on this. In one pole, "I like it for someone else's baby" won with 34%.

Posted by: PDP8E Mar 7 2021, 09:10 PM

just be thankful the helicopter wasn't named Choppy McChoppyface

Go PERCY!
Go GINNY!

Posted by: stevesliva Mar 8 2021, 04:46 PM

The Royal Navy has had many 'platitudinous noble quality' ships, but I'm not finding much info on nicknames.

It's interesting that two notable USN ships in this vein -- Enterprise and Intrepid, got the nicknames 'Big E' and 'Fighting I.'

'Nuclear P' would be a fun one.

Posted by: PaulH51 Mar 14 2021, 06:50 AM

Over on the M20 Reddit sub, I voted for Vera, but Percy seemed to win the popular vote.. (