What is your naming system for Planes/Rockets?

[musicpenguin]

And why is it that?

[klgraham1013]

I typically use Greek history and myth. It's something I've been interested in since I first watched Clash of the Titans (1981) as a kid.

[ThatGuyWithALongUsername]

I don't have one. Mine are generally named "test rocket" or "THINGY". That's because I'm not very good at naming things. I mean, just look at my username! Come on!

[Krosulhah]

For aircraft? generally i use the first letters of the role it plays, such as: "SI-23" would be Short (range) interceptor, and a bomber would be a "B-4" or something.

Rockets tend to just either be unnamed or literally just the mission idea like "Jool rocket" or such.

[AmpsterMan]

I have gone through so many different ways of naming my rockets/planes it's not even funny. My latest way is to just give it a name and then a version number. so far, my command module is by version Moho 7 because I keep adding stuff to it. If it's an intra generational improvement (i.e., i noticed that an extra parachute would work) I give it a .1 and continue.

[Jett_Quasar]

I look at my ship and whatever name suits it - that's what I name it.

JR

[nerdboy64]

I used to have a very complicated identification system with codes for the type and purpose of a craft (RT = pure Rocket Transport, HSP = Hybrid Spacecraft (used for SSTO planes) Personnel transport), followed by a number to differentiate multiple craft with the same type and role (RT-1, RT-2, and so on). Now though I mostly just give them whimsical names followed by a Mk. I, II, III, and so on. Sometimes I give them a prefix when I'm coordinating multiple craft in a larger program. My favorite is the Duna Extended Research Program because the acronym is DERP.

Edited August 30, 2015 by nerdboy64

[windows_x_seven]

Rockets: Mission name + Number

Planes:Role Initials + Number

[Sgt.Shutesie]

I tend to do mine in career modes the "RoninPawn" way, since that's the first time I saw it done that way. As for sandbox, I tend to do item names/mission names for rockets and title letters for planes with numbers. All of which are accompanied by my best witty descriptions.

For example, the "RoninPawn" way would be (Ship Number) - (Name).

Like, "001 - It's just Rocket Science" Which would then follow with some description.. Like this...

"Our sources tell us that there is money to be made in this "Aerospace" industry.

So we decided to try this out. We even have a cashier that volunteered to test out this beauty.

Note: Our sources also tell us that simply filling cardboard tubes with wood shavings might result in an explosion.

Good thing the test pilot doesn't know that."

Then for sandbox planes a simple acronym for the use and some random number accompanied by a nickname

Like "S-87 Flipper" Again with a description worth using...

"The engineers assured us that the nickname was nothing related to any sort

of aerodynamic quirk associated with flight of this aircraft."

I suppose it adds time to the making of it, but it's still fun to make fun of your craft a little bit.

[Gaarst]

I usually use random names for my rockets, with roman numerals showing the version, and usually letters for a variation of the laucher (ie: BlackDog VI A).

In my RSS save though, I add a classification to the name, so my rockets are named, from lightest to heaviest: C0, C1, C2... to C6 for now, with a special one: CX for my lunar rockets. And then, even more random names (ie: C5 Jupiter)

[NathanKell]

I've done all sorts. For RftS, I've used Greek for US, bow and torsion weapons for German missiles and Norse/Viking/etc for German capsules, and Roman (with Rainbow codes) for the UK. In my prior career I used bays for boosters and rivers for upper stages; in my present career I'm using bird names for sounding rockets (and planes), dog breeds for boosters and felines for uppers, and the locations of international [redacted] conventions like Zimmerwald and Moscow for capsules.

[Asharad]

Usually by function:

Moho Base 1

Moho Station 1

Hermes Power Module

Hermes Comms Module

Hermes Life Support

Rescue Kerbin Orbit

Rescue Mun Orbit

[razark]

I generally name mine something to do with the purpose and location of the ship. I haven't been playing much recently, but here's an example from an earlier save.

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TH=colspan: 5, align: center]Vessel Disposition Report[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH=align: center]Name[/TH]

[TH=align: center]Class[/TH]

[TH=align: center]Type[/TH]

[TH=align: center]Status[/TH]

[TH=align: center]Notes[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]BioLab 2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]BioLab[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Available[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]LKORS Alpha[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Station Core[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]BioLab 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]BioLab[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Experiment Mast[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Experiment Mast[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Power Array Alpha Mk2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Station Power Array Mk2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Physics Lab 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Physics Lab 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Physics Lab 2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Physics Lab 2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Habitat Module[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Habitat Module[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Orbital Shipyard Beta[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacedock 2 Section A[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Orbital Shipyard Beta A[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacedock 2 Section B[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Orbital Shipyard Beta B[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacedock 2 Section B[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]OS Beta Warehouse[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Parts Warehouse[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]OS Beta Depot[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Fuel Depot[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]OS Beta Habitation[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacedock Habitation Module[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]On Station[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Science Dart[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Science Vessel 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Science Orbiter I[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Science Vessel 2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Science Orbiter II[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Science Vessel 2A[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Mun Explorer[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Explorer I[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Mun Explorer II[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Explorer IA[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Mun Explorer III[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Explorer IA-2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Mun Explorer IV[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Explorer IA-3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Minmus One[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Explorer IA-3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]CTV 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Crew Transport Vehicle[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Plant Growth 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Experiment 1 (Plant Growth)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Lander Test[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Minmus One[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Minmus Two[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander 1 A1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left]Loss of solar panel during staging.[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Station Experiment 2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Experiment 1A (Plant Growth)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]CTV 2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Crew Transport Vehicle B[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]BioSupply 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Zoology Resupply[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Station Experiment 3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Experiment 2A (Creature Comforts)[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Power Array Alpha[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Station Power Array[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Space Station[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Construction 1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Crew Expedition Vehicle[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Mun One[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander 1 A2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]AC-N Test[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Crew Expedition Vehicle AC-N[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]BioSupply 2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Zoology Resupply B[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Mun Two[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander 1 A2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Station Experiment 4[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Experiment Plant Growth[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Station Experiment 5[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Experiment Kuark Eccentric[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Station Experiment 6[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Experiment Kuark Bioactivity[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Minmus 3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander 1 A2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Lander[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Station Experiment 7[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Experiment Kuark Prograde[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Crew Transport 3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Crew Expedition Vehicle A[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]AC-N Reducer[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Crew Expedition Vehicle AC-N[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Rescue One[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Crew Transport Vehicle C[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Station Experiment 8[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Experiment Kuark Retrograde[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]No Longer Exists[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Visitor AC[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Crew Expedition Vehicle AC[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Spacecraft[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Abandon In Place[/TD]

[TD=align: left][/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[Hotaru]

Varies wildly depending on my mood & whether I can be bothered coming up with something interesting or not.

I started out with "Auk I," "Auk II," etc. for my early-game Mk1-pod based ships in reference to Rocket Boys/October Sky, then for a while kept up with the "things that don't fly" theme (Dodo for probes, Walrus for Mk1-2, etc.). There were a few music references for a while there (the only one that survives in my current save is Aqualung, my automated tanker ships). In more recent saves I've gone for book/movie references (Rumfoord expedition to Duna, Strangelove for a prototype nuclear ship, Barbicane Station in Mun orbit, etc.). A lot of unmanned probes are just named descriptively (ContractSat 3, Jool Orbiter II, Eeloo Flyby I, etc.). In my last save I named my airplane/space plane types as diminutives of "star" (Starling, Starlet, Asterisk, etc.) and then gave the individual ships alphabetical names so they were easy to keep track of (Alice, Beatrix, Constance, etc.). And some things never get named at all, my reusable boosters have only ever been called "Reusable Booster."

[Moon Goddess]

Manned Rockets: Fruit in alphabet order. Apple, Banana, Cherry, etc.

Unmanned Rockets: Vegetables in alphabet order. Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, etc.

Planes are trees, You get where I'm going with this.

[OddFunction]

So I just do

[ships name] v0.#

Such as,

Munshot v0.1 = not flightworthy

Munshot v0.5 = design work + staging done, in need of testing

Munshot v0.75 = Craft can get into orbit and can return occupants or experiments safely

Munshot v1.0 = Craft is tested, safe, and performs its intended mission

If I'm designing anything I start at v0.1 and move up as I go so I always know what the craft is capable of. Some bonus version numbers:

Craftname v1.5 = Craft is based upon a v1.0 craft but is being modified for a different purpose

Craftname v2.0 = Modified craft is flightworthy/safe/performs intended missions

I don't really do anything further than that.

[Goddess Bhavani]

Manned Rockets: Fruit in alphabet order. Apple, Banana, Cherry, etc.

Unmanned Rockets: Vegetables in alphabet order. Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, etc.

Planes are trees, You get where I'm going with this.

This might sound wierd but...

I name spaceplanes after Goddesses. I will eventually have a whole line of it but I haven't got to the Goddess of the Moon yet

Rockets have names of Gods from classical mythology like what NASA does.

[PKing Zombie Spy]

My normal naming is unsystematic beyond just being a descriptive name followed by a version number: e.g., Rescue Rider-6 is my current generation of LKO Kerbal rescue system, Plane-2 is my current spaceplane LKO personnel shuttle, etc.

The only thing even remotely interestingly named is my "nuketug" system, a nuketug being set of dockable reusable nuclear engines I use to push stuff around. The designation is:Nuketug <N><A> <Dry>-<Wet> where <N> is thenumber of nuke engines (omitted if N=1), <A> is the attachment class (oneof S, M, L, for the size of docking port, or K for the klaw). I know a nuclearengine has 800 Isp, and generates 60 kN of thrust, so based on this informationI can determine quite easily which of my "fleet" I should couple witha given payload that requires a certain amount of delta-v to reach. E.g., Nuketug M 4.07+4 is a single engine tug with a medium docking port, and is 4.07tons dry and 8.07 tons wet. Nuketug4L 15.63+12.5 is a four engine tug with a large docking port, and is 15.63 tons dry and 28.13 tons wet.

[peachoftree]

I usually name my things based on what they are going to do (I.E, Minmus base) but I will name things that I put a lot of work into after famous scientists or celectial objects with the prefix K.S.S for Kerbal Space Ship. (i.e K.S.S Andromeda or K.S.S Galileo)

[cantab]

Wildly varying. But often, including in my latest save, I'll give a name to a program - a series of missions with a defined goal - and then number the individual missions within that. Typically the range of ship designs won't be as much as the number of missions in the program, because a successful design probably gets used again, so there are gaps in my numbering as seen in the VAB. Program names come from a wide variety of sources, though names of real people are probably most common.

(Names of Kerbals I've generally reserved for naming asteroids I track and plan on doing something with, for example 1 Jebediah or 4 Wernher.)

[Bill Phil]

I'm thinking about using star names...

Pollux 1, 2, 3, etc.

Ceti 1, 2, 3, etc.

Barnard

Centauri

Sirius

And so on...

[Plume & Akakak]

The primeval teleshopping naming system.

So I have the Orbit-o-tron, the Clever-o-Lab 300, or the Super-Analyz'All 2000.

Sometimes I use names of scientists and explorers, "adding 'K' to every word" option ON. I know some of you like it so much.

The Van de Kraaff 6, the James Kook 1000...

Lengthy variations on a single theme for asteroids : "an intriguing piece of gravel from outer space", "yet another enigmatic speck of sidereal dust".

For flags, each celestial body has its own rules of the game.

On Duna, I used names from Frank Herbert's... ...WorShip novel series (Flattery Chasma, Bickel Planitia, Ox Mount), while the regions of Minmus bear names of isometric viewpoint games I played as a kid. Molecule Man Island, Chimera Mesa, Bactron Hill...

I also make sure all planets and moons have their caches.

I typically use Greek history and myth. It's something I've been interested in since I first watched Clash of the Titans (1981) as a kid.

I have a set of "Bubo" probes that vaguely look like owls.

[TrainEngie]

I'm inconsistent with naming...

... but here's one of my systems

For Rockets:

Mathematical and geometric concepts (aka Perimeter 1, the launcher by itself) or the nicknames of cars (Levin 1B)

For Payloads:

Anything in English. (Mainstay 1)

For Planes:

TE-x English-word (TE-1 Turnpike) or three-letter code (KRS-1, stands for Kerbal Rocket Scouter 1)

Rockets + Payload

(Perimeter 1 + Mainstay 1)

[_stilgar_]

I use alphabet I mean, I use random words in alphabetical order. Then there is a number to denote revisions and modifications.

So, my first ship is usually Amoeba 1, then, after I reach orbit and unlock few nodes, then we have some unmanned Butterflies, then maybe a Chrysalis followed by a Dart...

Although, I sometimes go back to earlier designs and modify them. That's why in my last game, first landing on Mun was performed by Val in Amoeba 7. Then it turned out that there was not enough fuel to get back home, so a modified Amoeba 8 was sent to the rescue

[Edax]

I choose negative mythological names for my spaceplanes. My first line of spaceplanes was the Diabolus (Latin for Demon.) The Furisoa (Latin for Fury, plus it sounded cool from Mad Max) spaceplane line known for it's excess of engines and the parasite line Valkyria (Named after the game and the Valkyrie.) My LF-only SSTO line are named Morta (Roman goddess of death), and my interplanetary spaceplane carriers are named Nyx (Greek goddess of night). The first ship in the line will have "The" before it, and subsequent changes to the model will have the name, then the model number ex:"Valkyria III". If I have multiple copies of the same model, the second ship will have first letter of the name, then model number such as "V-3" and then be given it's own unique name.