It’s a “Curiosity” alright…
Curiosity (indeed). From NASA
Now please do not take this the wrong way, because I think it is noble and good that NASA is involving schoolkids in the process of naming its Mars Rovers. But Curiosity? Can’t we do better than that?
Imagine if kids had named the Apollo spacecraft…would the “The Curiosity has landed” have the same ring to it? Or, if one of the Mercury guys had named their capsule the Sobriety-7 or the Kindness-7, wouldn’t they have been laughed out of the Right Stuff Corps? Those are just a few other traits from the List of Virtues I found on the interweb.
Given what I hear about the Mars Science Laboratory, Complexity, Corpulence or Extravagance might be more apt. OK, maybe I am being something less than virtuous here…But what about naming this one after some towering figures in exploration of the Red Planet – like Schiaperelli, Lowell (or my favorite) Sagan? Or how about some of the great science fiction writers? Wells, Burroughs or Bradbury would all be great names.
Anyway, as my kids say: just sayin’…no offense. If you have a good idea for the name for MSL, let me know…By the way, my friends at NASAWatch.com are running a poll on this – click here if you are…er..curious.
First there was Sojourner, then there were Spirit and Opportunity, and in a few years there will be . . . Curiosity. That’s the official name given to NASA’s next Mars rover, formerly called the Mars Science Laboratory, or MSL.
via “Curiosity” rover to explore Red Planet – Short Sharp Science – New Scientist.
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how about “Red Rover” (just kidding)
I think it would have been good to give it the name of an explorer or astronomer.
Got it…”Sedulous” – meaning: active, busy, determined, diligent, hard-working, industrious…you get the idea. :u) Course it is not exactly a Schoolkids word; still…
good stuff, as usual, miles. bradbury would have been an amazing name
Trailblazer.
name it: MARVIN…after the martian cartoon character from WB