Renaming SIRTF: A Status Report November 2002

Over 7000 entries were submitted to the SIRTF Naming Contest in late
2001. Members of the SSC Education & Public Outreach Office reviewed
each entry and identified 161 semi-finalists for further
consideration. People who submitted these names/essays have received
notification and a package of outreach materials from the SSC. In May
2002, the remaining entrants were carefully reviewed by a committee
of SIRTF managers, external science writers and communicators, and
educators. This committee identified the six names (and eleven
Finalist essays) that are currently under consideration.

NASA has
chosen to rename the Observatory after it is launched and
successfully inserted into an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit. The
Grand Prize winner will be notified in December and invited to attend
the launch. However, a formal announcement of the name will not be
made until late winter.