Slashdot Mirror


Name the New Gamma-Ray Space Telescope

Ponca City, We Love You writes "NASA announced last week that members of the general public will have a chance to suggest a new name for the cutting edge Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, otherwise known as GLAST, before it launches in mid-2008. NASA wants a name that will capture the excitement of GLAST's mission and call attention to gamma-ray and high-energy astronomy. 'We are looking for something memorable to commemorate this spectacular new astronomy mission,' said Alan Stern, associate administrator for Science at NASA Headquarters in Washington. 'We hope someone will come up with a name that is catchy, easy to say and will help make the satellite and its mission a topic of dinner table and classroom discussion.' The period for submitting names closes on March 31, 2008. Participants must include a statement of 25 words or less about why their suggestion would be a strong name for the mission."

18 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Glastnost? by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ushering in a new era for our ...no, can't say it...

    --
    Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
  2. Why, GLADOS... by croddy · · Score: 5, Funny

    GLADOS: the Gamma-ray Large Area Deep-sky Object Surveyor.

    Just don't equip her with any neurotoxin emitters.

    1. Re:Why, GLADOS... by mdenham · · Score: 2, Funny

      You would have to ensure that it remains operational at temperatures up to 4000 kelvins.

  3. Some ideas by AlphaDrake · · Score: 5, Funny

    Far
    Astronomical Usefull
    Reaching
    Telescope

    Very
    Useful
    Lens
    Viewing
    Apparatus

    Super
    Long
    Apparatus
    So
    Humans
    Dont just
    Ogle
    Themselves

    1. Re:Some ideas by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      BIGTITS : Big Inanimate Gamma-ray Thing In The Sky

  4. Something cutting edge by ryants · · Score: 2, Funny

    How about... Compuglobalhypermegatelescope?

    --

    Ryan T. Sammartino
    "Ancora imparo"

  5. The Hulk by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    See if Marvel lets you have the rights.

  6. Of course by elronxenu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gamma-ray
    Observatory
    Astronomical
    Telescope
    Special
    Edition

    1. Re:Of course by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      High-energy
      Orbi-
      ting
      Gamma
      Ray
      Imaging
      Tele-
      scope

    2. Re:Of course by nleaf · · Score: 2, Funny

      Which would make it uniquely suited to search for black holes.

  7. Death Star by kitsunewarlock · · Score: 5, Funny

    I say we call it the "Death Star". Not so much for its abilities as we know it, but simply to scare off alien species who have used films to study our culture and will assume we have perfected the art of super-lasers.

    We should be ok. Everyone knows aliens read slashdot at the default settings, and if my other posts are any indication, I shouldn't get over a 2 (funny), tops.

    --
    Ginga no Rekshiya Mata Each page.
  8. eee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Everybody Loves Gamma-Rays

  9. Some suggestions by ElMiguel · · Score: 4, Funny
    NASA is in need of capturing the imagination of the American public and showing congressmen that they're a worthy investment. With that in mind, here are my suggestions:
    • The We Need More Funding Telescope.
    • The Sexier Than Natalie Portman Telescope.
    • The Protection For America's Children Telescope.
    • The We're Still Better Than China Telescope.
    By the way, I am available as a telescope naming consultant for the low low price of $200/hour. Hire me now and beat the other telescope making countries!
  10. Simple really by eclectro · · Score: 2, Funny

    'We hope someone will come up with a name that is catchy, easy to say and will help make the satellite and its mission a topic of dinner table and classroom discussion.' Just remove some letters! Gamma Ray becomes GA-Ray, short for Gamma Advanced Ray. Everybody not only will be talking about it, but they would continually be looking up.
    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  11. How about... by Grimbleton · · Score: 5, Funny

    Frank?

  12. My name by Lally+Singh · · Score: 2, Funny

    GIANT SPACE PENETRATOR.

    I don't have an acronym for it. I think it'll get the attention necessary.

    --
    Care about electronic freedom? Consider donating to the EFF!
  13. how about??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    G-Spotter?

  14. Excremental! by GDI+Lord · · Score: 2, Funny

    "NASA wants a name that will capture the excitement of GLAST's mission and call attention to gamma-ray and *high-energy astronomy*. Special High Intensity Telescope

    --
    You know its love when you memorize her IP address to skip DNS overhead.