LESS than three years before Australia plans to launch its first lunar rover to the moon, the country has already selected a name for the space vehicle as it prepares to make history in the global space industry.
After nearly two weeks of public vote, the name Roo-ver was chosen from more than 8,000 entries submitted to Australia’s rover-naming competition.
The Australian Space Agency plans to launch the semi-autonomous rover to the moon as early as 2026 in partnership with NASA’s robotic and human Moon exploration project known as the Artemis program.
Almost 20,000 Australians joined the public vote held between the 20th of November and December 1st.
The space vehicle will weigh approximately 20 kilograms or about the size of a check-in suitcase.
The lunar rover is expected to operate for 14 Earth days and collect lunar soil samples from which NASA will attempt to extract oxygen.
Oxygen is critical not only for rocket fuel but also to help sustain any future permanent base on the surface of the Moon for future explorations.
