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."

Comments

Glastnost?

[Nefarious Wheel]

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

Why, GLADOS...

[croddy]

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

Just don't equip her with any neurotoxin emitters.

Some ideas

[AlphaDrake]

Far
Astronomical Usefull
Reaching
Telescope

Very
Useful
Lens
Viewing
Apparatus

Super
Long
Apparatus
So
Humans
Dont just
Ogle
Themselves

The Hulk

[CrazyJim1]

See if Marvel lets you have the rights.

Of course

[elronxenu]

Gamma-ray
Observatory
Astronomical
Telescope
Special
Edition

Death Star

[kitsunewarlock]

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.

Some suggestions

[ElMiguel]

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!

How about...

[Grimbleton]

Frank?

Obvious really

[Gandalf_Greyhame]

"Cowboy Neal"

Carl Sagan

[Ganty]

As Dr Hawking is still alive I suggested the Carl Sagan telescope. Now all we need are 'billions and billions' more suggestions.

Ganty

Honestly

[Z00L00K]

Don't forget that it was Paul Villard that discovered the gamma rays.

In my opinion he should be honored by giving the name to the telescope. And considering that he actually isn't a well-known person outside the realms of the scientists working with gamma rays it's even better.

Everybody knows about Einstein, Bohr and Curie, but there are many other.

Of course - the site specifies that it isn't necessary that it's a scientist - it can be just about anybody. Just go ahead and suggest some names. I would not recommend names like "Iosif Vissarionovitj Dzjugasjvili", "Ilich Ramírez Sánchez" or "Saloth Sar", but your opinion may be different.