Athabasca, Alta., contender for moon rover name [Video]

EDMONTON –

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 says the potential rover name is drawn from the river and not his community, but the list has created “quite the buzz” …