Renaming GLAST
Published on Feb 8, 2008 at 8:17 am.
4 Comments.
Filed under space telescopes.
NASA renames things a lot. I got used to NGST (Next Generation Space Telescope), and now it is the James Webb Space Telescope. I got used to calling an infrared satellite SIRTIF (Space Infrared Telescope Facility), and then it became the Spitzer Space Telescope. The X-Ray Timing Explorer (XTE) became Rossi. The Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) is now Chandra. I miss the old days, when IRAS (the Infrared Astronomical Satellite) stayed IRAS. It was far less confusing for me.
Now, the Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) is being renamed. For some time, I have been reading about the anticipated science that will be done with GLAST. There have been a lot of papers presented at conferences about GLAST. Now, later this year, before the satellite is launched, it will have a new name. But, this time, they are soliciting suggestions for the new name. If you want to have a say, go to http://glast.sonoma.edu/glastname to make a suggestion.
GLAST’s mission is to study gamma rays, produced in some of the most energetic events in the universe. GLAST will search for signs of dark matter, accreting black holes, and many other things. GLAST may help us understand supermassive black holes, like the one at the center of the galaxy. GLAST may shed light on magnetars, bursters, and blazars. GLAST may even help explain the origin of different types of cosmic rays. But, it won’t be called GLAST anymore, so I’ll have to learn the new name. Maybe, I’ll even think of a name to submit. It might be easier to remember if they pick the name I gave it!
If you want to submit a name and you want it to be taken seriously, then you need to think of something good, and you’ll need to follow the rules for the naming. The name should convey the mission is some fashion. They also say that the name should be “catchy.” Hmm, I always thought GLAST was catchy, but I guess that I am a bit of a nerd at times. The name needs to be simple and easy to say. The name might be an acronym or it might be named after a person or thing that would catch the imagination. But, NASA tradition is that it won’t be named after a living person. Also, the name must be unique, so it can’t be the same as any other space mission (past or present, US or international), nor any other other NASA program or project. (Hmm. It seems to me that they’ve broken that rule themselves with naming of certain things.) In addition to the name, you need to write a short (under 25 word) explanation as to why you are suggesting that name.
So, give it a thought. I think that this is a nice gesture. Also, teachers can use this as a wonderful learning opportunity. You can cover gamma rays, for example, and then give a glass activity where they try to decide on what would be a good name, and why.
-Astroprof
Stu Savory on February 8, 2008 at 12:37 pm: 1
Off Topic:
How about sorting your blogrolls alphabetically. It would make it easier for us readers to find stuff (again).
Astroprof on February 9, 2008 at 2:37 pm: 2
I changed the Blogroll and Astronomy Sites links to alphabetical. The Space Blogs, though, are maintained by someone else, and I just import them, so I don’t have much control over what order they are displayed.
Stu Savory on February 9, 2008 at 11:23 pm: 3
Good fella! Thanks.
Astroprof’s Page » GLAST: T minus 4 days on June 7, 2008 at 2:06 pm: 4
[…] 3 months ago I wrote about the GLAST (Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope) and the search for a new name for the mission. The […]