Help NASA Choose The Name For The "Moonikin", An Astronout Mannequin That Will Be Sent To The Moon

JAKARTA - The American Space Agency (NASA) is preparing to fly a rocket to the Moon, in the Artemis I project. Uniquely, this time NASA will send a Moonikin doll or mannequin to be sent to the Moon.

The Moonikin is planned to be launched by NASA using an SLS rocket in the Orion spacecraft to circle the Moon in late 2021. This doll will also be equipped with an astronaut suit and various sensors attached to its body.

Cited from its official website, NASA asked the public to choose a name for the Moonikin doll that will be sent to the Moon. There are eight names to choose from, by listing them on NASA's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The eight names represent constellations as well as important figures for NASA's journey into space. One chosen name will be announced in the final round, Monday, June 28.

Here are some unique names to choose from:

  1. Ace : Singkatan dari misi Artemis Crew Explorer.
  2. Campos : Nama yang didedikasikan untuk Arturo Campos, salah seorang insinyur penting dalam misi Apollo 13.
  3. Delos : Pulau tempat Apollo dan Artemis dilahirkan, menurut mitos Yunani.
  4. Duhart : Didedikasikan untuk Irene Duhart Long, ilmuwan perempuan kulit hitam pertama di NASA.
  5. Montgomeri : Didedikasikan untuk Julius Montgomery, orang Afrika-Amerika pertama yang bekerja di Cape Canaveral Space Facility sebagai teknisi.
  6. Rigel : Diambil dari nama bintang raksasa di konstelasi Orion.
  7. Shackleton : Sebuah kawah di kutub selatan Bulan dan referensi ke penjelajah Antartika yang terkenal. 
  8. Wargo : Didedikasikan untuk Michael Wargo, Kepala Ilmuwan Eksplorasi pertama di NASA.