Kicker - Naming the new Mars rover

NICK EICHER, HOST: NASA is preparing to launch a new Mars rover later this year. But first, they have to answer an important question: What to call it?

AUDIO: The Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator.

Nah, too cartoony.

No, NASA sought K-to-12 student input from across the country for possible names.

And out of 30,000 essays received, they’ve narrowed the options to nine. 

Here they are:

• Endurance
• Tenacity
• Promise
• Perseverance
• Vision
• Clarity
• Ingenuity
• Fortitude
• Courage

And you can vote for the winner at mars.nasa.gov.

But I think what’s clear here is that student input is much better than surveys of the general public. Perhaps you remember a few years ago, the Natural Environment Research Council asked the public to name a research vessel. 

And the result they came up with: RSS Boaty McBoatface. ’Nuff said.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

(Photo/NASA)

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