One small step for Alberta town: Residents of Athabasca hope to share name with lunar rover

Residents of a northern Alberta town are over the moon that it could share its name with the first Canadian rover set to explore the dark, cold terrain of Earth's closest celestial neighbour.

The Canadian Space Agency is seeking a moniker for the four-wheeled, one-metre-tall robot set to scour for water and other resources on the moon — and is putting it to a vote.

Athabasca joins Courage, Glacier and Pol-R on the short list of names from which Canadians of all ages can choose.

Athabasca refers to the river that begins at the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park. Along its 1,200-kilometre journey to Lake Athabasca in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan, the river passes through the town of Athabasca, 145 kilometres north of Edmonton.

The town's mayor said the potential rover name is drawn from the river and not his community, but the list has created a buzz among its nearly 3,000 residents since it was released last week.

Robert Balay said with a laugh that he broke the agency's rule of one vote per person and cast two ballots to name the rover Athabasca — "once from my personal email and once from my work email."

He said the river is the town's main attraction and it's a cool surprise to think the rover could represent it from far, far away.

Balay said those in the town have been encouraging one another to vote before the online poll closes Dec. 20.

Among them is Shauna Zenteno, dean of Athabasca University's faculty of science.

She said she has told all her colleagues to vote, so the rover can put the town on the global and intergalactic maps.

"Northern Canada is somewhat neglected, so it's a suitable name. We're obviously excited," she said.

Michael Borody, whose family members have lived in Athabasca for more than a century, said he has voted.

"It's quite a strong name to see picked. It would be awesome to win," Borody said.

The lunar rover would be the first of a fleet to be launched to the moon no earlier than 2026. Sandrine Masella, a spokesperson for the space agency, said its name has to reflect the mission and have a link with Canada.