Australia’s first lunar rover will be named Roo-ver after thousands of people voted in a public competition.
The semi-autonomous rover will travel to the moon as part of a NASA project starting in 2026, helping to collect lunar soil from which scientists hope to extract oxygen, a key component of rocket fuel.
More than 8,000 entries were submitted to the Australian Space Agency Naming Competition and only about 20,000 votes were received.
Roo-ver claimed 36% of the votes to beat three other shortlisted names: Coolamon, an Indigenous name for a multi-purpose tool used for gathering; Kakirra, an Indigenous name for the Moon; and Mateship.
The announcement was made Wednesday at the Australian Space Forum, which brought together key industry figures from around the world, with visitors from countries accompanied by NASA astronaut Shannon Walker.
Australia’s demographic makeup and political stability were touted as assets in foreign construction associations.
A key topic of conversation was empowering First Nations people to contribute to projects in space.
Representatives from Australia and New Zealand spoke of the desire to engage indigenous communities.
The NASA-run Arnhem Space Centre, Australia’s first spaceport, works with Aboriginal communities and creates jobs in remote areas.
A local liberation company in South Australia also works with Aboriginal community operations on classic lands.
Iain Cosser, director of the New Zealand Space Agency, shares this ambition.
He wants the Maori people to come to the table and reap the benefits of New Zealand’s space program.
Cosser and his Australian counterpart Enrico Palermo hope that Oceania’s grassy evening skies will maintain their importance in Aboriginal and Maori culture.
Sustainability in the area’s industry is also a primary concern.
Space agencies around the world use satellites to monitor climate issues such as carbon dioxide, global temperature levels, and the polar ice cap.
The Australian Space Agency will set aside $1 million for two local companies to develop more efficient solar cells, helping power satellites large and small.
Palermo said the projects would address the climate challenge and spur innovation.
“Not only do those projects have the potential to run long-term global space missions, but they also have programs that can return to Earth to help us tackle some of our most demanding situations, such as climate change,” he said.
Australian Associated Press
READ MORE:
Perth to host Asia-Pacific Space Agency convention in 2024
Nyk Carnsew is a journalist for Australia’s Associated Press.
William Ton is a journalist for the Australian Associated Press.
Get Premium now. Not ready? Get the free Daily newsletter.
Forgot password?