You read that right, the European Space Agency (ESA) is inviting the public to suggest a name for the ExoMars 2020 rover set to launch for the red planet in 2020 and arrive on Mars early 2021. The competition was suggested and initiated by the UK Space Agency (who holds the naming rights due to being the largest financial contributor to the project among ESA member states) and presented by UK Astronaut Tim Peake at the Farnborough International Airshow Friday this week.
The ExoMars 2020 rover is the European Space Agency's next flagship mission in science and exploration. Image credit: ESA (source)
In order to submit a suggested name for the rover, visit this website hosted by Airbus where the rover is currently at during the final stages of its development.
I know what you're thinking: "Here we go again, will they never learn?" Having seen numerous examples of competitions like these going wrong with names such as Boaty McBoatface and Trainy McTrainface, my first reaction to the news when it was shared on ESA's own website here was "oh, no...". However, after looking up the presentation by Tim Peake further detailed in this article by the bbc, it is clear that "Spacey McSpaceface" is already disqualified and that the name will be selected in the end by the organizers rather than in an online poll.
The ExoMars 2020 rover will attempt to land on Mars using the same landing module as the Schiaparelli lander which crashed in 2016. Image credit: OHB source
So what do you think would be a fitting name?
Space missions so far have usually been named after famous scientists from the continent or country of the Agency that owns the spacecraft. Hence why we've had names for satellites such as Copernicus and Galileo, or space telescopes and explorers such as the Hubble's space telescope and Cassini. The Agency now wants to engage more with the public and choose a name that resonates more with citizens and reflects what they associate with a mission to Mars.
For some inspiration, you might consider that whereas NASA's Curiosity rover which landed on Mars in 2012 can only drill 5 centimeters, the ExoMars 2020 will be able to drill 2 meters. The primary objective will be to further study the sub-surface chemistry of Mars and identify organic substances. While giving us a deeper understanding of the geological past of the red planet, this will also help answer key questions related to the possibility of the existence of life.
What do you think steemians? What name would you like to see on the side of the rover that might uncover the next series of discoveries from the red planet? I would love to hear that from you in the comments below!
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