18.06.2021
One mannequin is about to have a much more astronomical purpose than its peers.
When NASA's Orion spacecraft takes off for the uncrewed Artemis I moon mission currently slated to launch this November, its commander's seat won't be empty: A mannequin -- outfitted with two radiation sensors and a first-generation Orion Crew Survival System spacesuit -- will be riding along to provide data on what human crew members might experience during the Artemis II spaceflight in 2023.
While the mannequin has a goal, it doesn't yet have a name. That's why NASA is holding a "Name the Artemis Moonikin Challenge." Every other day from June 16 to June 28, the agency is asking social media users on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to vote between names, bracket style, until one emerges as the winner.
Voters can choose among eight names, according to a news release:
- ACE: "Straightforward, practical. Stands for Artemis Crew Explorer."
- CAMPOS: "Resourceful, problem-solver. A dedication to Arturo Campos, a key player in bringing Apollo 13 home."
- DELOS: "Nostalgic, romantic. The island where Apollo and Artemis were born, according to Greek myth."
- DUHART: "Warm, welcoming. A dedication to Irene Duhart Long, (the first female and first minority) chief medical officer at Kennedy Space Center."
- MONTGOMERY: "Pioneer, innovative. A dedication to Julius Montgomery, first African American to work at the Cape Canaveral Space Facility as a technical professional."
- RIGEL: "Bright, inspirational. The giant superstar in the Orion constellation."
- SHACKLETON: "Secretive, abundant. A crater on the Moon's south pole and a reference to a famous Antarctic explorer."
- WARGO: "Enthusiastic, passionate. A dedication to Michael Wargo, the agency's first Chief Exploration Scientist."
"Inviting the public to participate in the naming contests and other challenges is important to bring people along for the journey and inspire the next generation of explorers," said Kathryn Hambleton, a NASA spokesperson, via email. "We look forward to the final name selected for the moonikin and encourage people to follow along as we work toward a long-lasting presence on and around the Moon and get ready for the first mission to Mars."
Why a mannequin is going to space
Engineers will compare Artemis I flight data with previous ground-based tests conducted with the same mannequin and human subjects, NASA has said, to prepare for Artemis II.
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