Name the New Space Station Module

Once again NASA is offering a cool opportunity aimed at space buffs, young and old.

This time, you have a chance to select the name for the next module being sent to the International Space Station (ISS).

This is nothing new. NASA and other space agencies have established a tradition of naming named each habitable section of the space station. That includes the three space laboratories (NASa's Destiny, Europe's Columbus, and the Japanese Kibo or Hope), two airlocks (Quest and the Russian Pirs or Pier), and two Russian-built modules (Zvezda or Star and Zarya or Dawn).

The Winner Is...

The Node 3 module being sent into orbit will contain eight refrigerator-size racks to accomodate many of the ISS life support systems.

A cupola with six windows around the sides and one on top, will be attached to the node. NASA calls it the world's ultimate observation deck.

Inside the cupola, astronauts will have an incredible view of mother Earth as well as their home in space, offering astronauts a position from which to observe and photograph the planet below. The cupola will additionally contain a robotics workstation from which astronauts can operate the station's 57-foot robotic arm.

Voting Details

Your vote can be made online, with a choice of one of four NASA suggestions. The names offered are Earthrise, Legacy, Serenity, or Venture.

You can also write in a name, if you wish. However, the name should reflect the spirit of exploration and cooperation the space station represents. It must also follow in the tradition established by Node 1, named "Unity," and Node 2, named "Harmony."

Voting Deadline

Submissions are being accepted through March 20th.

NASA will announce the winning name at the Node 3 unveiling April 28th at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Node 3 will arrive at Kennedy Space Center April 20th. It will be launched late this year on STS-103.

Consolidation Goal

Once attached to the ISS, the crew will do some consolidation of life support, transferring into the new racks on the module the oxygen generation system which extracts oxygen from water, the atmosphere revitalization system, water recovery system, urine processor assembly, and the waste and hygiene compartment

For more information, to vote or submit a name, and to view pictures of the node and cuploa, go to http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html

While at the NASA website, you can learn more about the ISS and track its position in orbit over the Earth.