Help NASA Name the Next ISS Module
Written by Nancy Atkinson
Node 3 needs a name. Credit: NASA
The next module for the International Space Station needs a name; something with a little more pizazz than its current appellation, Node 3. NASA is seeking opinions and suggestions for new names, for the component – a connecting module and its cupola, targeted to launch in December 2009. The cupola looks very cool, almost like a starship bridge – with six rectangular windows and one circular window overhead, providing a panoramic view that will be unrivaled by any other spacecraft ever flown. Node 3 itself will connect to the port side of the Unity Node and will provide room for many of the station’s life support systems. NASA has a few names picked out, so you can vote for those, or suggest your own designation. NASA says the name should reflect the spirit of exploration and cooperation embodied by the space station, and follow in the tradition set by Node 1- Unity- and Node 2- Harmony. Here are the choices so far:
Earthrise, Legacy, Serenity, Venture, or, suggest another name.
Voting/suggesting is open until March 20 here.
More about Node 3:
Space shuttle Endeavour will deliver the Node 3 components during the STS-130 mission, currently schedule for December 2009. Once the cupola is attached to one of the module’s six ports, it will offer astronauts a spectacular view of both their home planet and their home in space. Aside from providing a perfect location to observe and photograph the Earth, the cupola also will contain a robotics workstation, where astronauts will be able to control the station’s giant robotic arm.
Node 3 and cupola. Credit: ESA
After Node 3 is installed, the station’s crew will transfer over many of the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) currently stored in various places around the station, including:
The Oxygen Generation System (OGS), which takes the station’s water and splits it apart into hydrogen, which gets vented into space, and oxygen, which is returned into the cabin for the crew to breathe
Atmosphere Revitalization System (ARS), which controls the station’s carbon dioxide levels and maintains the temperature and atmospheric pressure at comfortable levels.
The Water Recovery System (WRS) and Urine Processor Assembly (UPA), which take waste water from the station’s shower and toilets and purify it, separating any contaminants and making it safe for the crew to drink.
The Waste and hygiene compartment, which provides a place for the crew to shower and use the bathroom in a way that allows the station to process the majority of the water used onboard so that it may be used again, greatly lessening the need for resupply flights from Earth.
NASA and its station partners traditionally have named each habitable part of the station, including its three laboratories (the U.S lab- Destiny, the European lab- Columbus, and the Japanese lab- Kibo or Hope), two airlocks (Quest and Pirs), and two Russian-built modules (Zvezda or Star, and Zarya or Dawn).
Source: NASA
Filed under: Space Station
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February 20th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I have a feeling this topic of discussion will go somewhere on the line of our ATV discussion.
NASA will probably call this node peace. (of junk)
February 20th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Sounds like a Conservatory to me.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Julius Caesar
February 20th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Grissom or Armstrong.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:50 am
The current leading name on NASA's website is "Serenity"
. Methinks there is considerable overlap between the set of NASA readers and the set of Firefly fans.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
The observation lounge
February 20th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
To be fair, I was thinking of a co-name -A Slavic (Russian or Soviet Cosmonaut) and an American Astronaut – I am still thinking
February 20th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Does anyone know how to get NASA to show some other options besides these? None of them are any good or make sense in combination with Unity and Harmony. I think that the node should be called Integrity, which matches very well and sounds much better, but since no one will see this option, it will probably be called Serenity which is a very stupid option which does no service to the honor and spirit of cooperation of which the station is such a magnificent symbol. If you know how, please help to publicize this alternative.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
how about floating hunk of red tape nasa crap
February 20th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I thought Earthrise (very poetic, and what people will observe from there) was a sure winner but for some reason people like "serenity?"
Serenity seems senseless and cheesey…
February 20th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
I think Venture is a good name.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Just dropped my suggestion in the box…: Fraternity.
And yes…where can we see all the suggestions?!
February 20th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Serenity definitely has my vote, though more as a tribute to the Space craft "Serenity" from the Firefly TV Series.
February 21st, 2009 at 6:57 am
Hmm . . . let's see, how about the word "WASTE." Now don't anyone get excited. I know "WASTE" isn't exactly catchy, but it appears to be very accurate.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:33 am
Community
February 21st, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I voted for Serenity.
… I was thinking of that name as I was reading and than there it was, first place,
February 21st, 2009 at 2:32 pm
the view is going to be beautiful!
February 21st, 2009 at 3:05 pm
The Nasa names are starting to sound like motivational posters, they should not suggest what is not realistic to strive for….Legacy sounds too political…I like Integrity, or peoples names. Some other possibly appropriate adverbs and agenda projections / labels:
Stability (orbital)
Solvency
Habitability
Redundancy
Survivability
Patience
Perseverance
Clairvoyance
Flexibility
Visibility
Privacy
Relativity (special or general)
Observability
Demonstrability
Disprovability
Serendipity
Solidarity
Cooperation
Opportunity (equal)
Liberte
Egalite
Fraternite
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:11 am
My suggestion was "Five Forward" since there is no bar. But Joss Whedon rules ALL!
"Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me…"
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:54 am
Suggested Integrity at the NASA site before seeing it independently here. It looks like Serenity is most popular. I am slightly disappointed that some of the anti-ISS folk commenting on UT have not come up with a blizzard of synical, comical and bitter suggestions (challenge
).
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:18 am
This one needs something catchy like:
The Luckenbach !!!
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:22 am
…………because you are looking back in time when observing the stars and Earth!!
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:44 am
wow thats rally tight wat yall doin
February 24th, 2009 at 6:26 am
I think serenity may be a nailed on winner!
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:52 pm
COLBERT
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Everyone vote COLBERT!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:55 pm
colbert
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Name it Colbert!!!!
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:15 pm
colbert
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
COLBERT!!!
March 4th, 2009 at 12:59 am
How about expensive piece of junk that the money could have been better spent on the poor and homeless?
March 4th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Colbert!
March 4th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
COLBERT NAME IT COLBERT!
March 4th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Nothing short of "Colbert" will do.
March 5th, 2009 at 11:39 am
colbert is grrrooooood
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Jack Alexander Says:
March 4th, 2009 at 12:59 am
How about expensive piece of junk that the money could have been better spent on the poor and homeless?
Your edumication learned you gud. *sigh* Sadly this idiot is gonna eat his hotpocket, check his laptop, then take his nuclear medicine chemo therapy and sit down and continue to critize things that are keeping his sad, sad existance alive.
My advice, Read more of the E-Bible on your Amazon Kindle and leave the bad mouthing of NASA to your conservative buddies that are ripping you off by foreclosing on your house or stealing your 401(k) in the latest Ponzi scheme you are feeding into on a daily basis.