Canadians Invited to Vote for Moon Rover Name
Launch Planned no Earlier than 2026
This one is only for Canadian citizens. From November 20 to December 20, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is inviting Canadians to have their say on the name of the first Canadian lunar rover.
For the first time, a Canadian rover will explore the Moon. It will help in the international search for water ice, a key component needed for the future of human space exploration. Canadensys is currently developing and testing the robotic vehicle.
Canadians of all ages can go to the CSA website to vote for the name they like best among the choices provided. They are:
Athabasca: Athabasca is a river flowing from the Rockies through Alberta to Lake Athabasca. Canada's rivers and streams have been the routes of the continent for millennia and continue to be pathways of discovery, transport and exchange. The names of the rivers also reflect Canada's diversity and heritage. Future rovers from our fleet could continue this trend by taking names of other Canadian natural wonders.
Courage: To be brave and confident to do what you believe in, Courage is representative of the work that has led to the Canadian lunar rover. This lunar rover mission is the outcome of over two decades of building and refining our expertise in rover technology with Canadian industry and academia.
Glacier: Glaciers are made of ice, and that is what the rover will be looking for: water in the form of ice. The name also appeals to Canada's northness: glaciers are important features of Canada's West and Arctic. Our country is home to approximately 20% of Earth's glacier ice volume (excluding the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets).
Pol-R: Creative spelling of Polar, which refers to regions close to the North Pole or South Pole. A big part of Canada is located in the north polar circle, and the rover mission will be landing in the south polar region of the Moon.
For decades, as part of Canada's plan for robotic space exploration, the CSA has been actively working on refining rover designs and building Canadian expertise in rover technologies. In November 2022, Canadensys Aerospace Corporation (Canadensys) was selected to build the Canadian lunar rover as well as to integrate the Canadian payloads and the NASA-provided instrument.