Canberra
The Australian Space Agency (ASA) has unveiled a shortlist of four potential names for the nation’s inaugural moon rover. Selected from over 8,000 public submissions, the final decision rests with the Australian public, who can vote on the names Coolamon, Kakirra, Mateship, or Roo-ver until December 1. The winning name will be revealed on December 6. The names were scrutinized by an ASA panel based on criteria such as relevance, creativity, and the rationale provided by the submitters. Coolamon, an Indigenous Australian vessel, Kakirra, translating to moon in the language of the Kaurna Aboriginal people, Mateship representing a national character trait, and Roo-ver, incorporating the iconic kangaroo, make up the diverse options. Following the naming, the rover is set to embark on a lunar mission under a partnership with NASA, scheduled for one of its Artemis missions targeted for launch in 2026 or 2027. Once on the moon, the rover, with a vital role highlighted by ASA head Enrico Palermo, will collect lunar soil to assess the possibility of extracting oxygen. The ultimate aim is to lay the groundwork for a sustainable human presence on the moon. The rover’s design will be determined through the collaboration of two consortiums comprising Australian industries, space start-ups, universities, and resource companies. Each consortium was granted A$4 million ($2.6 million) in funding in March for the development of their respective lunar vehicles.
