TERRA Name Contest Honorable Mention

Jennifer Boyd
Boise, Idaho

Mundo

People in the ancient Latin civilization could not have dreamed of comprehending all of the advancements that have been accomplished in the 20th century. Some of the more recent and important events have been the landing on the moon, the International Space Station being built as a joint effort by several countries, and the wide use of satellites for communication, weather and the GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) system. These projects have provided many opportunities for different countries of the world to work together.

As this new EOS (Earth Orbiting Satellite) circles the earth, it will be collecting data about weather and climate. This information will be collected and utilized by various countries around the world. Many advances in satellites, telescopes, video cameras and infrared sensors have allowed scientists to study aspects of the sky from space, allowing them to get a better idea of what is happening. Ancient cultures could not depend on complicated technology to provide the weather. They depended on the sky to explain what the upcoming weather was.

The Latin language is the root of many languages spoken on the earth today. In ancient times, however, as groups of travelers spread out among the continents changes were made to the existing language. This situation will occur again when the data from the satellite is received. Each country will take the same information, interpret it and use it in different ways. The information could be used to aid the development of a country's weather system, provide larger warning times on immense storm systems that are identified and to learn more about the weather patterns that are occurring around the world. Different interpretations and uses will enhance the value of the EOS as used by different countries.

In Latin the word Mundo means world. It is fitting that the EOS be called Mundo to honor the work of the many countries that have been brought together in this great undertaking. This is a significant event in this century as countries work together in a sharing of technology. As people around our world continue to come together, work and help one another, we can share new benefits with this newly acquired information.

Karen Campion
Crestwood, Kentucky

Oculus

I believe that NASA's Earth Observing System satellite should be named "Oculus." Oculus is a Latin word meaning "eye." This is an appropriate name because the Oculus would be the first satellite to "focus" on earth and given an accurate "view" of her environment and ever-changing conditions.

Also, satellites and eyes have many comparable parts and functions. For example, satellites are equipped with radio transmitters that allow signals to be sent from the unit back to earth. Similarly, eyes send information to the brain via the optic nerve. In the brain, the information about what the eye has seen is collected, analyzed, and stored, much like the way space centers record information that satellites transmit back to earth. Many satellites today use solar energy as their primary power source. Eyes use the energy from the sun in the form of reflected visible light in order for them to collect information about the world surrounding us. Another important component in a satellite is the radar which measures the unit's distance from Earth in order to keep the satellite in an appropriate orbit. Likewise, several parts of the eye work together to allow depth perception, which is the ability to judge the relative spatial location of objects accurately.

The name "Oculus" also forms an acronym that describes the satellite and the object of the mission. The acronym is Observation Collection Unit for Long-term Understanding and Study. As this phrase indicates, the purpose of the satellite would be to observe and collect data about the Earth and it's atmosphere. The resulting data would then be transmitted to earth, where it would be studied in order for scientists to develop a greater long-term understanding about the world in which we live.

For these reasons, I believe that "Oculus" is a very appropriate and fitting name for a satellite that will be an eye on our world.

Herve Choi
Toronto, Canada

Kono

First of all, why did I pick the language Esperanto? Esperanto means "hope," and it is an artificial and neutral language that was meant to unite the people that are speaking different languages. Science also acts like a common language. Not everyone in this world has the chance to go to school and study it, but everybody needs it. It can be found anywhere in our lives.

"Kono" is the ultimate goal of mankind. Every day, we work together to seek knowledge, to see the things no one has seen before, to investigate something that is unknown to any person on this Earth. This satellite is intended to gather information and statistics of the Earth that will mean a lot for the people. With these data, we can study the Earth more thoroughly, and we will have a better idea about the planet we are living in.

As we are approaching the millennium, we should be working harder to find the "kono." As a famous scientist once said, "The more I know, the more I realize what I don't know." Now we know much more about this world, but we now realize there is much more for us to discover than we originally thought. This satellite will be one of the ways to find more answers to our questions, but also it brings more things for us to find out, to seek kono. That is the reason why the EOS-AM is so important to be sent into the Earth orbit: to let us find out more about the Earth, and that is kono.

Danielle Fink
Bellaire, Texas

Hyperion

People have been searching for explanations to the world around them for centuries. The Greeks, in their quest for knowledge, created Hyperion. Hyperion was one of the twelve Titans. He was considered to be the father of the sun, the moon, and the dawn.

Today, in humans' search for knowledge, people turn to science for answers. The EOS-AM will help people to further understand their world. This endeavor should be given the name of "Hyperion."

Hyperion, in creating the sun and the moon, would have been responsible for the Earth's climate. As father of the dawn, he represents the coming of the new age of understanding of the Earth.

Ashley Horn
Durham, Connecticut

Gaea

Instead of naming the satellite in honor of somebody who made a great contribution to the field of science, I thought back to the one object without which we would not exist — the Earth. After much research and thought, I have decided to name the satellite after the most important goddess in Greek mythology. Intelligent life could not exist if Earth had never been formed, so Gaea, the Greek goddess of the Earth, seems to be the perfect name for the satellite. Besides being the goddess of the Earth, Gaea had several other distinguishing characteristics which can be related to the satellite. Gaea was the first goddess in Greek mythology, and this satellite will be the first satellite ever to study the Earth as one global system. Both Gaea and the satellite are pioneers in their field, so it seems natural that they have the same name. Gaea was also known for her foretelling of the future. With the information that will be collected by the satellite and utilized by scientists, we, as a people, will be able to, in a sense, foretell the future. Using the collected information, the computer models will allow meteorologists, climatologists and other scientists to anticipate changes in the climate. By naming the satellite Gaea, it has a very good chance of being respected in use for a long time, since Gaea herself was respected as an important and powerful goddess even after her cult died down, and was still referred to in ceremonies for a long time after.

Jennifer Hsieh
San Jose, California

Ma'exa

Ma'exa means eye in the Cheyenne language. There is no doubt that EOS-AM1 is an eye. It will allow us to see and focus on what we can not see, namely, ourselves. The world today is smothered with computers, but computing power is most useful when helping mankind. The first step to creating computer models of anything is to observe. We must use our eyes to observe and absorb the images of information around us. For so long, our eyes have been focused onto those which our flailing arms have hit in the dark. We have discovered other galaxies and stars and seen their beauty. Yet, during none of this time have we devoted an eye to ourselves. No one knows how the Earth functions as a whole. A critical Ma'exa to weather patterns could prevent unnecessary deaths. A serious Ma'exa to climate change may preserve the Earth. An unblinking Ma'exa will provide scientists all over the world with an honest and unbiased view of our home. This satellite is not a mirror; we will not see a reflection. We will see the true us. Therefore, there is no simpler name than to call it an eye, Ma'exa. As an American satellite, it ought to present a part of American culture no other country has. Thus, I have chosen a Cheyenne word. Nonetheless, a simple eye is still an eye when translated into any language of the world. An eye helps one to open the door to new knowledge; one no longer must only look through a window.

Elizabeth Kunkle
Saginaw, Michigan

Iris

Along streams and roadsides and on hillsides and bluffs, a gregarious common plant can be found without much searching. This well-known flower is none other than the eye-pleasing iris. The usual colors of the flower include blue and purple, but the iris can also bear the colors red, yellow, and white. This vast array of colors lends meaning to its name, which in Greek means "rainbow." In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and a messenger from the gods to humankind. The "rainbow" was Iris's bridge between heaven and Earth.

Scripture tells us that God set a rainbow in the sky as a promise to His people. All of God's people were created with eye color. This part of the eye is known as the iris. According to the "New World Dictionary of the English Language," the iris of the eye is defined as "the round, pigmented membrane surrounding the pupil to regulate the amount of light." Even though we classify the color of our eyes in very general categories, each individual has his own unique variation.

I believe that the Earth Observing System satellite should be named "Iris" because of its various and appropriate meanings. The new satellite will represent the Iris of the world. "Iris" will watch over humankind and observe climatic and environmental changes. "Iris" will be a messenger of information that could lead to new discoveries. The satellite will serve as a bridge between the heavens and the Earth. It will be set in the sky much like the "rainbow" and will represent a technological promise to keep an eye on our most precious resource, Earth--and to color its future bright.

Maggie Messerschmidt
Louisville, Kentucky

The Carson

A good name for the first Earth Observing System satellite would be "The Carson," referring to author and scientist Rachel Louise Carson (1907-64). Carson is well known for her book Silent Spring, which was recognized in 1992 as the most influential book of the last fifty years. In this book, she brought several environmental issues to public, government, and industrial attention. It illuminated a very important issue in the twentieth century world, the connection between humans and the natural environment.

Silent Spring was published in 1962 and was met with controversy almost immediately. There were conflicts involving the pesticide industry, her female gender, and the government. No matter what Carson was up against, however, she stood strong in her beliefs in her research and findings. As a result of her determination, love of nature, and great writing ability, not only were the manufacturing, usage, and disposal of pesticides limited, but also environmentally conscious organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency and others were initiated. The list of Carson's contributions to science is never-ending because every day environmental issues are researched and the awareness is still growing.

Carson's name would be a very strong symbol for the satellite that is intended to help scientists better understand the climate and environment of Earth, just as Carson herself did. She is a role model to people of every race, sex, or age, showing us the tremendous difference that one person can make. It is unfortunate that she died of cancer shortly after the publication of Silent Spring, for perhaps she could have taught us even more about the Earth's environment. But maybe she can. Her environmental awareness can live on through the Earth Observing System satellite, still teaching us about the Earth's environment.

Hakon Reiersen
Sveio, Norway

Hugin

The ruling god in Scandinavian mythology was Odin. Each day he sent out his two ravens, Hugin and Munin. All day the ravens flew around on Earth, and in the evening they returned to tell their master what had happened on Earth that day.

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