NASA needs help naming its test flight dummy Artemis I “moonikin”

the Artemis I mission to the Moon has taken some great strides as NASA recently exhibited his powerful, partially assembled SLS rocket (below). Now the space agency is asking for help naming its first (non-human) passenger, or “moonikin” who will fly aboard the Orion capsule. The dummy will fly on the first mission to help collect data on how the trip to the moon might affect the human body.

NASA’s “Name The Artemis Moonikin Challenge” will allow the public to choose between eight shortlisted names, rather than risking one “Boaty mcboatface“type situation. These names are: Ace, Wargo, Delos, Duhart, Campos, Shackleton, Montgomery and Rigel. Each has a meaning – for example Montgomery is a tribute to Julius Montgomery,” the first African American ever hired to l ‘Air of Cape Canaveral Force Station to work as a technical professional, ” NASA said. Duhart, meanwhile, is a reference to former chief medical officer Dr Irene Huart Long.

NASA will post the vote on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram starting today in a knockout tournament-style challenge. The final vote will take place on June 28 and the official name of the moonikin will be announced on June 29.

The moonikin itself (normally referred to as a dummy) “will be fitted with two radiation sensors and sensors in the seat – one under the headrest and another behind the seat – to record acceleration and vibration throughout. of the mission as Orion travels around the Moon and returns to Earth, ”NASA said. It will be accompanied by “ghosts” made from materials designed to mimic the bones, tissues and organs of an adult woman. These already have names: Zolgar and Helga.

NASA recently planned to pilot the Artemis I unmanned mission in November 2021, although such timelines tend to slip. The end goal is to perform the first manned landings in 2024, including future missions to land the first woman and person of color on the moon.