Perseverance (aka Percy)- Naming Discussion Options

[vjkane]

...Thinking ahead it is somewhat problematic that the expected lifetime (1-2 years) of the mission is so conservative, in light of the success of previous missions. It will be impossible to argue to go back into the crater once the rover left it.

Everyone hopes and probably expects that Percy will have a long life and will sample both Jezero and Midway. However, rovers/spacecraft do break, and any operations past the first Martian year also require that NASA approve an extended mission and that is funded. So the managers and science team want to make sure that the base mission requirements are met in that first year.

[serpens]

Everyone hopes and probably expects that Percy will have ....

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.

[stevesliva]

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.

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.

[PaulH51]

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.

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