Science

Judi Lynn

(160,649 posts) Fri Jul 20, 2018, 01:45 PM Jul 2018

The Boaty McBoatface Naming Debacle Is Coming Back to Haunt the 2020 Mars Rover

TIME › Lifestyle › 31 minutes ago

In the post-Boaty McBoatface era, apparently no Internet naming competition is safe from those hoping to recreate the iconic viral prank.

After the U.K. Space Agency opened a contest to name its next Mars rover—which is set to launch in August 2020—Twitter users predictably began chiming in with the Boaty McBoatface-inspired suggestion of Rovy McRoverface.

For those unfamiliar with the Boaty McBoatface debacle, the hilarious moniker was the name chosen for a $287 million polar research ship after an online poll created by the U.K.’s National Environment Research Council (NERC) spiraled out of control in 2016.

However, the astronaut spearheading the mars rover campaign, Tim Peak, has found a way to ensure the spacecraft gets a bit more appropriate name. Instead of being subject to the Internet’s will, all suggestions entered on this website will be presented to an expert panel for consideration.

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https://firenewsfeed.com/lifestyle/1803776

5 replies

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The Boaty McBoatface Naming Debacle Is Coming Back to Haunt the 2020 Mars Rover (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jul 2018 OP

Seems a rather droll thing to name a piece of machinery that could be said Crutchez_CuiBono Jul 2018 #1

What's funny about the Boaty McBoatface thing is ... VMA131Marine Jul 2018 #2

I like Rovy Wade better. CanonRay Jul 2018 #3

I sent in my entry - Hawking VMA131Marine Jul 2018 #4

Well they made me LOL, so I give both names two thumbs up 👍🏾 👍🏾 😆 n/t BlancheSplanchnik Jul 2018 #5

Crutchez_CuiBono

(7,725 posts)

1. Seems a rather droll thing to name a piece of machinery that could be said

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jul 20, 2018, 01:50 PM

Jul 2018

to be a historic outgrowth of the scientific endeavor of mankind. To me it debases, and diminishes the extreme intelligence we all gathered together to make these trips possible. INCLUDING the billions spent by taxpayers, who will never really know the truth about the things they will discover.

VMA131Marine

(4,158 posts)

2. What's funny about the Boaty McBoatface thing is ...

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jul 20, 2018, 01:54 PM

Jul 2018

the people running the naming contest overruled the winning vote because it resulted in a stupid name. Instead, they went with the eminently more dignified RRS Sir David Attenborough. But when the voters of the UK stupidly and narrowly voted to leave the EU, without even knowing the consequences, that vote is to be held sacrosanct. Madness!