A Lunar Tribute: Astronauts Request to Name Moon Craters After Loved Ones
The team of astronauts of the recent moon mission have decided to pay homage to the Apollo 8 tradition, by adding a personal touch to the moon's geography. They asked to name two lunar craters after things close to their hearts - their spacecraft named "Integrity" and the deceased wife of the mission's commander.
The request was brought forth by a Canadian astronaut just before the team started their lunar exploration. The commander, overwhelmed by emotions, couldn't bring himself to voice the proposal.
The commander's wife, Carroll, who used to work as a neonatal nurse, tragically lost her battle with cancer. "Naming a crater after her was the highlight of the mission for me," the commander confessed during an interview from space.
The Apollo Legacy Continues
The Apollo 8 mission in 1968 set this heartfelt tradition in motion when astronaut Jim Lovell named a conspicuous lunar peak after his wife, Marilyn, during humanity's first trip to the moon. Today's team of three American astronauts and one Canadian are the first to visit the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, and their sentimental request left the ground control team speechless.
"It was an unexpected and emotionally charged moment. It caught many of us off guard and left us teary-eyed," confessed a lunar scientist.
Choosing the Craters
Prior to the launch, the astronauts worked with the mission control's lead scientist to select two bright and young craters. They were able to clearly see these craters once they were close enough to the moon.
The idea of naming a crater was suggested by the commander's crewmates while they were in quarantine just days before the launch. Recalling the moment, the commander said that he was too overwhelmed to deliver a speech on it, but he readily agreed to the idea.
The Carroll and Integrity Craters
The proposed Carroll Crater is situated on the boundary of the moon's near and far sides, and is occasionally visible from Earth. It's relatively shallow and approximately 3 miles across. The Integrity Crater, slightly bigger in size, is located entirely on the lunar far side.
The astronauts made their naming request shortly after they broke the record for the furthest distance travelled in deep space. They all shed tears as they embraced in a group hug.
"We lost a loved one. Her name was Carroll, the wife of our commander and mother of Katie and Ellie," the Canadian astronaut expressed, his voice choked with emotion. "It's a bright spot on the moon and we would like to call it Carroll."
The response from mission control echoed the sentiment: "Integrity and Carroll crater, loud and clear."
A More Human Aspect
This emotional moment is quite different from the moon missions of the 1960s and 70s. The lunar scientist pointed out that this human aspect is not something missing from the Apollo missions, but rather a new development. "We're seeing just a more human aspect," he said.
Upon their return to Earth, the crew will put forth the proposed names to the International Astronomical Union. It took almost half a century for the Union to endorse the name Mount Marilyn from the Apollo 8 mission, but they promise a decision on Carroll and Integrity within a month, which is standard for straightforward requests.
The Union's approved list already includes 81 lunar features named by astronauts. However, not all nicknames proposed by astronauts in the past were accepted. For instance, the last astronaut to walk on the moon in 1972, named a split boulder "Tracy's Rock" after his young daughter, but it didn't make the cut. Similarly, a touchdown spot named "Pete's Parking Lot" in 1969 was also rejected.