Name
On December 13, 2007, NASA's Lunar Surface Access Module was retitled "Altair", after the 12th brightest star in the northern hemisphere's night sky, Altair in the constellation Aquila. In Latin, "aquila" means "eagle", providing a connection to the first crewed lunar landing, Apollo 11's Eagle; the name Altair itself is a Latinization of the Arabic الطائر al-ṭā'ir, meaning "the Eagle," "the Bird," or "the Flyer."
Prior to the announcement of the "Altair" name, reports had suggested other names had been considered by NASA, but Altair won in a vote by the design team over Pegasus.
Read more about this topic: Altair (spacecraft)
Famous quotes containing the word name:
“Name any name and then remember everybody you ever knew who bore than name. Are they all alike. I think so.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)
“What is it? a learned man
Could give it a clumsy name.
Let him name it who can,
The beauty would be the same.”
—Alfred Tennyson (1809–1892)