# Next Shuttle Names **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313 "2003-02-02T16:12:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/21 "2003-02-02T21:09:59Z")
Most of you may already know this, but the Space Shuttle orbiters were all [named](http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/shuttle/orbiters.html) after “sea vessels which established new frontiers in research and exploration.” If they could somehow manage to build a new one from the existing design, I’m pretty sure they’d try to continue that theme. _Beagle_ fits the pattern, but it doesn’t sound quite as grand as the others, does it? ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/22 "2003-02-02T21:12:34Z")
That’s what I was thinking **Robot** , but on further consideration I would say the chances of a Republican Congress spending billions on a new shuttle to be named _Beagle_ are about 0. I think it would be cool though. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/23 "2003-02-02T21:31:26Z")
I think _Constitution_ should be “retired” as a name since the sailing ship with that name is still officially active and has had quite a distinguished history. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/24 "2003-02-02T21:31:28Z")
Well, [here](http://members.aye.net/~bholt/Proposed%20Names.htm) are a few of the names that were proposed for _Endeavor_. “Intrepid,” which I’m partial to, seems to be the most popular name for fictional space shuttles, btw. Though I’ve even heard of ones named “Camelot” and “Churchill.” Ranchoth (But I STILL don’t know how to pronounce “Hokule’a”) ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/25 "2003-02-02T21:43:23Z")
Actually, a LOT of teams submitted “Endeavor.” Only one or two submitted “Endeavour”, which was chosen. My school submitted Endeavor, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/26 "2003-02-02T21:49:33Z")
[ Ranchoth (But I STILL don’t know how to pronounce “Hokule’a”) \*\* [/QUOTE] Hoe-koo-LAY-uh I’ve seen that tiny vessel of Lahaina before, it’s remarkable. How about Santa Maria. I like the idea of Phoenix, considering the mythical bird behind the name. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/27 "2003-02-02T21:51:14Z")
[slight hijack] I thought the names were in alphabetical order without the B. Atlantis Challenger/Columbia Discovery Endevour I’ve always wondered where the B went…😕 [/slight hijack] If it’s true, the next one could be Fathom or Frontier. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/28 "2003-02-02T23:06:34Z")
The CG has a fleet of cutters whose names might be appropriate: ACTIVE ALERT CONFIDENCE DAUNTLESS DECISIVE DEPENDABLE DILIGENCE RELIANCE RESOLUTE STEADFAST VALIANT VENTUROUS VIGILANT VIGOROUS I really like the _Constitution_ idea, but perhaps it should be retired as a name. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/29 "2003-02-02T23:12:42Z")
Hmm… exploratory vessels? I get this sudden Heyerdahlish vibe. Space shuttle _Kon Tiki_? (OK, so it ended up running aground. So did _Santa Maria_ – which would be un-PC) But hey, _Hokule’a_ would be interesting. And _Beagle_ would be excellent. Of course, the next “class” of shuttle will likely have an entirely different naming scheme. Um… **Bosda** , I seriously think that it’ll be a while before we name a ship after old Wehrner. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/30 "2003-02-02T23:21:20Z")
_Killing Time_ _Frank Exchange of Views_ _Sleeper Service_ _Serious Callers Only_ _Shoot Them Later_ _Anticipation of a New Lover’s Arrival_ (Yes, I have been reading _Excession_ recently… why d’you ask? :D) ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/31 "2003-02-02T23:32:14Z")
If we are going with distinguished ships then I recommend “Bluenose”. however, what about naming them after cities of famous “first” astronauts? The only one off the top of my head I can think of would be “Sault Ste Marie” for Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian female in space, and also the first Neurologist in space. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/32 "2003-02-02T23:43:51Z")
‘Columbia’ was named after the ship that Robert Gray sailed when he explored the northwest of North America. The Columbia river and Gray’s Harbor in Washington are named after the ship and her captain. He also sailed in a ship named ‘Lady Washington’ (after Martha). Maybe that isn’t such a good name for a spaceship. How about ‘Armstrong’? I know they usually like to wait until someone is dead before honoring them this way, but what the hey? Then we could name the next one ‘Aldrin’. Or ‘Gagarin.’ That would sound very globally-aware (rather than short-sighted and isolationist) of us, hmm? ‘Kennedy’? ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/33 "2003-02-02T23:55:47Z")
_Cornucopia of Excellent Goods at Low Prices_ or _The pirates ship Revenge_ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/34 "2003-02-03T00:15:45Z")
\*\*ARRRRGH, ME HEARTIES! Methinks the shuttle should be named: \*\* The Crimson Binome! This ‘uns goin’ out to all you “Reboot” fans. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Blueapple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blueapple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueapple)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/35 "2003-02-03T01:08:26Z")
How 'bout we stop with the ‘C’ names… ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/36 "2003-02-03T01:28:54Z")
‘ **The Spirit of Brutus** ’ certainly has a nice ring to it. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/37 "2003-02-03T02:23:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JRDelirious \* > \*\*Aquarius, Yankee Clipper, Antares, Orion, America. \*\* Falcon, Kitty Hawk, Casper, Gumdrop, Spider, Charlie Brown & Snoopy (hey, he was a beagle!) 🙂 Eric ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/38 "2003-02-03T03:08:06Z")
How about… _Endurance_ (Ernest Shakleton’s ship) _Calypso_ (Jacques Cousteau’s ship) Or there’s always… _Enterprise._ ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/39 "2003-02-03T03:16:17Z")
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Zed Zed Nine Plural Zed Alpha (Heart of Gold) America Rama ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-shuttle-names/152313/40 "2003-02-03T03:32:53Z")
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