Spaceship naming

[ToukieToucan]

It's pretty obvious that cool names for your space ships are important "Houston, the untitled space craft has landed." sounds weird, almost like aliens little green men would've landed on the moon .

So what are some cool naming schemes that you use?

I personally like names of major cities or states.

 

[solarbearman]

I usually just write some random words

and boom!

I found a cool name

Edited August 3, 2016 by solarbearman

[magnemoe]

At launch they tend to have series names like standardbase2deep who is the deep space version of my standard base.
Bases and local ships tend to be named after body like Polbase or Munbase beta or location like krakenbase. 
Long range ships tend to get cool names. 

Currently my fast movers are Krakenslayer and Fast horse who is Orion pulse engine powered, Medusa, Starliner and Hyperspeed is medusa pulse engine powered. Systemliner is an LV-N powered passenger and light cargo liner for the LKO-Mun-Minmus out of Kerbin SOI run. 

As I start to have bases everywhere its nice to have names who make it obvious there they are 
 

Edited August 3, 2016 by magnemoe

[SyzygyΣE]

My naming scheme is extremely complex. I think for a long time as to what to name my vessels.

---

Stages (in Subassemblies)
My rocket stages are always named after stars. I refer to this page and more-often-than-not, just choose a name by random. The number of named stars are plentiful, and so this naming scheme would be difficult to use up.

---

Rockets
As for the rockets themselves, I consider the purposes they are to be used for and go from there. For example, the first rocket I launched into orbit was named Frontier 1. This was derived because it was the first crossing into the frontier of the cosmos. I'm playing with RO, so generally there isn't a need to design a completely new rocket for every launch. I just reuse preexisting and named rockets, perhaps modifying them slightly, ending up with two independent rockets with slight differences for specific purposes. Since the rockets are generally still the same, I simply add a letter to the end of their name. For example, Frontier 1A for launching a 100kg payload to orbit and Frontier 1B for launching a 400kg payload to orbit.

If I don't tweak the rockets but instead add boosters to give them an extra kick, I use the following convention: Say, I added 2 boosters onto Frontier 1A, it would become Frontier 1A C2. C2 is an acronym for Configuration 2. The "2" at the end stands for 2 boosters. If I were to add 4 boosters, it would become Frontier 1A C4. If I add boosters and tweak the rocket slightly, Frontier 1A C2 would become Frontier 1B C4.

The next stage (pun intended?) of changes is the number after the rocket name. Under what circumstances would Frontier 1 become Frontier 2? This happens when I make some significant changes instead of small tweaks to the body of the rocket (small tweaks would just mean the next letter of the alphabet e.g. Frontier 1B). This may include changing tank length, altering tank width, adding more engines, and overall, additions of features that would make the main body of the rocket decently different to the previous generation. For example, I find that Frontier 1A is not producing enough kick and decide to use an engine cluster instead of a single engine. This would create the new name "Frontier 2A."

However, if I change the type of engine, that is a significant change and in that case, I would change the name of the rocket. This usually means a complete redesign anyway, as different engines require different tank and body characteristics.

Now, I do have some special acronyms. If Frontier 1A is a successful rocket for lifting a payload to orbit but can be altered without changing the type of engine into a rocket capable of launching a manned mission to orbit, I apply the acronym "MLV"—Manned Launch Vehicle. In this case the Frontier rocket would now become Frontier 1A MLV.

I will give a final example to help everyone understand better. If I altered Frontier 1A's body slightly, added 4 boosters and a manned module, what would its name become? Well, following the previous conventions, it would produce: Frontier 1B MLV-C4.

Seems simple? Ok, that was not close to simple. Feel free to read through as many times as you like and ask if you don't understand something. 

---

Satellites/Probes
Similar to rockets, I consider the purpose for which satellites are used for. They are often based around mythological figures. If I'm sending a probe to study the sun, I can name it "Icarus." Icarus was a greek mythological figure who had a pair of wings constructed by wax. However, he was too overconfident and flew too close to the sun, causing the wax to melt and him to plunge into the sea. Of course, this probe isn't going to fly into the sun, but the connection between Icarus and the mission of this probe is enough to grant it this name.

Similarly, Sedna is an incredibly distant dwarf planet present in my RSS install. A probe I decide to send there I can name "Tartarus." Tartarus has two meanings: a deity and a location in the underworld. In ancient Greek mythology, it is the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans. If I'm sending a probe to the outer reaches of the solar system, where it will be incredibly dark and cold, what better name is there except for deities/themes of the underworld?

Probes that have a basic purpose or is mass produced don't need these types of names. "CommSat" or "SkyLink" is a pretty reasonable name for any communication satellites for mods like RemoteTech. If I'm scanning another object through the use of the mod ScanSat, these satellites will quite literally just be named "ScanSat." Other examples might include NavSat, FlybySat, ImageSat etc.

---

Rovers/Landers
Rovers and landers follow the same general theme of the mythological context. I haven't really thought about them yet but I suppose it could do with mythological figures that roamed the ground and did not fly. I'll consider the possibilities. If I'm really running out of ideas I can just come up with a basic name like "Lunar Lithosphere Explorer." Recall that NASA's two active Mars Rovers—Opportunity and Curiosity, really did not have complex names. Opportunity was technically named MER-B, meaning Mars Exploration Rover B, and Curiosity being Mars Science Laboratory. Nothing too crazy, right?

---

Stations/Bases
The names of space stations or ground bases are generally more . . . epic? They still stick to the theme of mythology but I often look for a common group of deities to name a group of stations or bases. What does this mean? Well, my end-game objective is to deploy 12 self-sustaining stations around the solar system. Each will be one of the Zodiacal Constellations. Other "groups" can possibly be:
    | The 7 Deadly Sins.
    | The 7 Heavenly Virtues.
    | The 9 Circles Of Hell.
    | Paradiso, Purgatorio and Inferno, based off Dante's divine comedy.
    | The 9 Norse Worlds.
    | The 4 Horsemen Of Apocalypse.

---

To finish off, spaceship name generators are always available online. Here is one of them.

In summary, here are some suggestions you should follow when naming:
    | Much easier if you have a theme to base off.
    | Think clever acronyms.
    | Expand your vocabulary base and generate simply good sounding words.
    | Try not to design too many different rockets. Alter what you already have to avoid having to come up with an entirely new name.
    | Many identical satellites? Use simple names like CommSat.
    | Stuck? Try online name generators.

Phew. That took forever to type. Feel free to ask me again if you don't understand something. My rocket naming scheme is especially complex and may require more than one read. Good luck. I hope this was of help.

Edited August 3, 2016 by SyzygyΣE

[Xyphos]

I don't overthink names, I just call it what it is, most of which I cannot mention on the forums due to the profanity rule.
 

Edited August 3, 2016 by Xyphos

[ToukieToucan]

1 hour ago, SyzygyΣE said:

My naming scheme is extremely complex. I think for a long time as to what to name my vessels.

---

Stages (in Subassemblies)
My rocket stages are always named after stars. I refer to this page and more-often-than-not, just choose a name by random. The number of named stars are plentiful, and so this naming scheme would be difficult to use up.

---

Rockets
As for the rockets themselves, I consider the purposes they are to be used for and go from there. For example, the first rocket I launched into orbit was named Frontier 1. This was derived because it was the first crossing into the frontier of the cosmos. I'm playing with RO, so generally there isn't a need to design a completely new rocket for every launch. I just reuse preexisting and named rockets, perhaps modifying them slightly, ending up with two independent rockets with slight differences for specific purposes. Since the rockets are generally still the same, I simply add a letter to the end of their name. For example, Frontier 1A for launching a 100kg payload to orbit and Frontier 1B for launching a 400kg payload to orbit.

If I don't tweak the rockets but instead add boosters to give them an extra kick, I use the following convention: Say, I added 2 boosters onto Frontier 1A, it would become Frontier 1A C2. C2 is an acronym for Configuration 2. The "2" at the end stands for 2 boosters. If I were to add 4 boosters, it would become Frontier 1A C4. If I add boosters and tweak the rocket slightly, Frontier 1A C2 would become Frontier 1B C4.

The next stage (pun intended?) of changes is the number after the rocket name. Under what circumstances would Frontier 1 become Frontier 2? This happens when I make some significant changes instead of small tweaks to the body of the rocket (small tweaks would just mean the next letter of the alphabet e.g. Frontier 1B). This may include changing tank length, altering tank width, adding more engines, and overall, additions of features that would make the main body of the rocket decently different to the previous generation. For example, I find that Frontier 1A is not producing enough kick and decide to use an engine cluster instead of a single engine. This would create the new name "Frontier 2A."

However, if I change the type of engine, that is a significant change and in that case, I would change the name of the rocket. This usually means a complete redesign anyway, as different engines require different tank and body characteristics.

Now, I do have some special acronyms. If Frontier 1A is a successful rocket for lifting a payload to orbit but can be altered without changing the type of engine into a rocket capable of launching a manned mission to orbit, I apply the acronym "MLV"—Manned Launch Vehicle. In this case the Frontier rocket would now become Frontier 1A MLV.

I will give a final example to help everyone understand better. If I altered Frontier 1A's body slightly, added 4 boosters and a manned module, what would its name become? Well, following the previous conventions, it would produce: Frontier 1B MLV-C4.

Seems simple? Ok, that was not close to simple. Feel free to read through as many times as you like and ask if you don't understand something. 

---

Satellites/Probes
Similar to rockets, I consider the purpose for which satellites are used for. They are often based around mythological figures. If I'm sending a probe to study the sun, I can name it "Icarus." Icarus was a greek mythological figure who had a pair of wings constructed by wax. However, he was too overconfident and flew too close to the sun, causing the wax to melt and him to plunge into the sea. Of course, this probe isn't going to fly into the sun, but the connection between Icarus and the mission of this probe is enough to grant it this name.

Similarly, Sedna is an incredibly distant dwarf planet present in my RSS install. A probe I decide to send there I can name "Tartarus." Tartarus has two meanings: a deity and a location in the underworld. In ancient Greek mythology, it is the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans. If I'm sending a probe to the outer reaches of the solar system, where it will be incredibly dark and cold, what better name is there except for deities/themes of the underworld?

Probes that have a basic purpose or is mass produced don't need these types of names. "CommSat" or "SkyLink" is a pretty reasonable name for any communication satellites for mods like RemoteTech. If I'm scanning another object through the use of the mod ScanSat, these satellites will quite literally just be named "ScanSat." Other examples might include NavSat, FlybySat, ImageSat etc.

---

Rovers/Landers
Rovers and landers follow the same general theme of the mythological context. I haven't really thought about them yet but I suppose it could do with mythological figures that roamed the ground and did not fly. I'll consider the possibilities. If I'm really running out of ideas I can just come up with a basic name like "Lunar Lithosphere Explorer." Recall that NASA's two active Mars Rovers—Opportunity and Curiosity, really did not have complex names. Opportunity was technically named MER-B, meaning Mars Exploration Rover B, and Curiosity being Mars Science Laboratory. Nothing too crazy, right?

---

Stations/Bases
The names of space stations or ground bases are generally more . . . epic? They still stick to the theme of mythology but I often look for a common group of deities to name a group of stations or bases. What does this mean? Well, my end-game objective is to deploy 12 self-sustaining stations around the solar system. Each will be one of the Zodiacal Constellations. Other "groups" can possibly be:
    | The 7 Deadly Sins.
    | The 7 Heavenly Virtues.
    | The 9 Circles Of Hell.
    | Paradiso, Purgatorio and Inferno, based off Dante's divine comedy.
    | The 9 Norse Worlds.
    | The 4 Horsemen Of Apocalypse.

---

To finish off, spaceship name generators are always available online. Here is one of them.

In summary, here are some suggestions you should follow when naming:
    | Much easier if you have a theme to base off.
    | Think clever acronyms.
    | Expand your vocabulary base and generate simply good sounding words.
    | Try not to design too many different rockets. Alter what you already have to avoid having to come up with an entirely new name.
    | Many identical satellites? Use simple names like CommSat.
    | Stuck? Try online name generators.

Phew. That took forever to type. Feel free to ask me again if you don't understand something. My rocket naming scheme is especially complex and may require more than one read. Good luck. I hope this was of help.

Ah, I used to have a whole scheme of naming themes, still kind of use it:

 

Manned Spaceflight get city names for example

 

kerbin Atlanta

mun Seattle

minmus Chicago

 

That way you can easily identify the craft by name, mostly the name given to a planet (Atlanta for example) stays the same so the first orbit till space station refills will all be called Atlanta (Although I could ofcourse give a new scheme to space station refills). One of the only times a naming scheme will changed is when there have been multiple catastrophic events (2 rockets blowing up in succession).

My relay sats mostly have some Aztec name, Probes some sort of name of a State (stuff like Wyoming, Nevada Iowa sound pretty nice).

 

Edit: I'm going to start a new science mode save but need a decent save file name and flag, should I go for Toucan Space Program or something little more serious like NASA/USA?

Edited August 3, 2016 by ToukieToucan

[SyzygyΣE]

15 minutes ago, ToukieToucan said:

Edit: I'm going to start a new science mode save but need a decent save file name and flag, should I go for Toucan Space Program or something little more serious like NASA/USA?

I would recommend RSS for you if you are thinking of using real nations. But, what are you intending to do? Will you simply just try some "interesting" designs and watch the fireworks that may ensure or perform a progression through a real space program? For my career, I based the launch site on a remote island in the Pacific as a secret organisation. Depends on your play style and what you want to achieve.

[ToukieToucan]

14 minutes ago, SyzygyΣE said:

I would recommend RSS for you if you are thinking of using real nations. But, what are you intending to do? Will you simply just try some "interesting" designs and watch the fireworks that may ensure or perform a progression through a real space program? For my career, I based the launch site on a remote island in the Pacific as a secret organisation. Depends on your play style and what you want to achieve.

Going for a semi realistic science save with TAC, RemoteTech, ScanSat, Kerbal Construction Time, some parts mods (Nearfuture included), and kOS.

Goal is landing kerbals on possibly every planet (if not returning, sustainable base must be built) or just something else interesting.

I think my space program will be pretty public (except those spy sats ), by the way, how do you change your launch site?

Edited August 3, 2016 by ToukieToucan

[SyzygyΣE]

32 minutes ago, ToukieToucan said:

Going for a semi realistic science save with TAC, RemoteTech, ScanSat, Kerbal Construction Time, some parts mods (Nearfuture included), and kOS.

Goal is landing kerbals on possibly every planet (if not returning, sustainable base must be built) or just something else interesting.

I think the Toucan Space Program is fine for this. After all you are on Kerbin. Then again a flag probably isn't the main point of concern. If I was in your position I'd only use the NASA flag if I had a career in RSS but I am a bit obsessed with realism. Do what's comfortable for you.

Edited August 3, 2016 by SyzygyΣE

[SyzygyΣE]

1 hour ago, ToukieToucan said:

By the way, how do you change your launch site?

I'm not actually too sure how to do so in Stock. RSS has a LaunchSites.cfg file supplied but I don't know where to locate that for Stock. You're meant to modify that file to change launch site. In any case you're going to need the mod KSC Switcher. Without that I'm quite sure you can't switch to a new site. The mod developer already said he won't be releasing a LaunchSites configuration for Stock, and I've never tried using it with Stock alone so unfortunately I can't help much beyond this point. Nevertheless, these are the kinds of parameters you'll be facing to modify if you wish to change your launch site location.

This here is my LaunchSites.cfg file as an example. You can refer to this if you want. In RSS this file is located in the RSS GameData folder. In Stock I don't know where to find it.

Edited August 3, 2016 by SyzygyΣE

[MaxwellsDemon]

I take inspiration from real-world probe and mission names, but I translate them into their rough Ancient Egyptian equivalents.  For instance, Apollo was commonly associated with Horus, and Hermes (Mercury) with Thoth, so I use "Horus" for the three-Kerbal capsule and "Thoth" for the single-Kerbal capsule.  I don't obsess over it, though, and if a name sounds good, I'll go with it-- real-world naming isn't all that systematic either, after all!

[MDZhB]

I've used many different naming schemes. Right now I'm being lazy and naming things like "Mun 5" or "Big Huge Lifter 2", but I've had cool names in the past. I used to name a lot of things after ancient Sumerian goddesses. My main crew transport used to be called the Inanna 1, for example.

For permanent things like stations of bases, I choose unique (and usually stupid) names, like Earth (for a base on Duna) or Shiri station.

Acronyms are also fun to use sometimes. On the Mun I'm using a thing I call the PB&J, for Personal Backpack and Jetpack. Of course, if I really can't think of anything at all, I can always name them after the Touhou project.

[maltesh]

My naming scheme is fairly simple. Pick an object that comes with a large number of varieties to name the class after. Name the individual vessels after the varieties, advancing through the alphabet with each successive vessel.

Spacecraft come in a few types:

• CARVs, or Crew Ascent and Recovery Vehicles.  These transport Kerbals (and Science, when I remember) from the surface to orbit, and back. I have two classes of these vehicles:
  • The Broadsword-Class CARVs, which carry 6. These are named after legendary and fictional swords. In my current save, the ones that have existed are the CARVs Glamdring, Hautclere, Icingdeath, Joyeuse, Kalevanmiekka, Lightbringer, Master Sword, Narsil, Omens, Power, and Qualta Blade.
  • The Polearm-Class CARVs, which carry 18. These are named after polearm types. So far, I've only had the CARV Bec de Corbin, and the CARV COrseque.
• DSOVs, or Deep-Space Operations Vehciles.  These run on LV-Ns and are craft used to run kerbals from LKO to other space-based destinations. They never land, and are refueled primarily by ISRU installations.
  • The Cookie-Class DSOVs carry 6. The ones currently in my save include the DSOVs Hamantash, Icebox, Joedenkoek, and Ladyfinger.
  • The Cake-Class DSOVs carry 18. The ones currently in my save include are the DSOVs Blackforest and Croquembouche
• STV, or Surface Transfer Vehicles, are landers.  These are also refueled and stay in service over their destination until I decide to scuttle them. 
  • The Cheddar-class landers carry 6, and  are my longest-running spacecraft design; They are LV-N based landers, and  variants of the Cheddar class have served me since 0.18, and rated for landings on up to Mun-sized airless worlds, such as Ike, Dres, and Eeloo.  They're named after cheeses, and the ones currently in my save are the STVs Kabritt, Juustoleipa, and Liptauer.
  • The Sauce-class landers are a new design, and carry 18., also LVN-Based.  They're still going through iterations, and the two currently in service are the STVs Alfredo and Bernaise.
  • The Spice-Class landers are lander's I've used in the past for Duna, but still don't have a design I like for  them. There are none in my current save, previous saves have seen the STVs Cardamon and Dukkah, among others.
• ASVs, or Aerospace Vehicles: Currently, I have none in service.
  • The Zephyr-class ASVs, I named after winds. When they were in service, I hadn't enforced the alphabetical names, so I had the ASVs including the Haboob, Nor'easter, and  Sirocco, among others.

My surface bases are currently leaning towards being named after fictional countries, with the one on Minmus being called Avalon Base.  Haven't decided on a final rename for the Munar base, so it's still Dunzor Base.

My space stations are currently being named after fictional castles and fortresses, so the ones I've named under the scheme are Anvard Station and Blandings Station.

Other former classes of spacecraft  that I no longer use included the Kielbasa-class DSOVs (Carried 11, named after sausages) , The Baguette-class DSOVs (Carried 19, named after breads), the Hexa- and Hepta-class DSOVs (named after the numbers 6 and 7 in fictional languages, respectively), the Borscht-class Crew Recovery Vehicles (Carried 7, named after soups), and the Salad-class Crew Recovery vehicles (carried 19, named after salads)

A Google Sheets breakdown of what's currently in my Career save can be found at http://tinyurl.com/ksp-save-doc , it checks for updates about once per hour.

[polytechnique]

My larger vessels, spaceships, get the names of prescription medicines. Oseltamivir, Xanax, Ambien, etc.

My smaller vessels and SSTOs get the names of mythological figures or people I know IRL with particularly interesting names.

... I'm not particularly imaginative ;p

[Maxvolume]

I tend to just put random but yet reasonable names

Example: I made a Biome explorer for KSC and just called it "LOL" 

And my Mun lander had a predictable name: Kerpollo 11

Edited August 4, 2016 by Maxvolume

[Docsprock]

I use an alpha-numeric system for all my vehicles that are not spacecraft. (Exception: SSTOs).

e.g. KTA 101 j

K for Kerbal, T for Transport, A for Aircraft, 1 for crew, 0 for Science equipment, 1 for # Engines, j for juno.

 

Spacecraft usually get named after the Pilot + Destination. Such as, Valentina-Mun, or Jeb-Duna 3. (If it happened to be Jebs 3rd trip.)  Makes it easy to know where they all are.

[Talos]

I try to stay simple, using abbreviations (So for an information gathering probe, I call it an IGP-01toinfinity) then give it a nickname. I usually give nicknames based off different sci-fi content, for example one of my probes in my career game is the IGP-15 "Sisko".

[Mjp1050]

I really don't have a naming scheme. My names so far include:

• Moho Probe
• Minmus McMinmus 
• I WAS PLANNING ON COMING BACK!!!
• Tesselation
• Tourist Trap IV
• Yerr Aveerige Peerate Minin' Stayshun
• Munbase 1
• San Jebadiah
• PROPER SpacePlane Prototype
• This Monstrosity

Don't ask.

[r4pt0r]

Greek/Roman deities, historical figures, or weapons.


My most ambitious would be the "Madness of Caligula", a many times designed, never successful supermothership bigger than any of my usual craft.

and it has red lights, because madness or whatever.
 

[CobraA1]

I've tried naming schemes - but when I came back to the game later, I found I had to decode them to figure out what did what. So now my names are all somewhat descriptive. A bit boring, but I'll know what they do.

[NSEP]

I always give my rockets names like:

-Reys

-Amerros

-MEL

-APDM

or even Dutch names, wich are kind off lazy because I am Dutch.

-Maan

-Vuurpijl

i even named a SSTO if mine:

-Papier Vliegtuigje. 

Find out what it means yourself lol!

 

[adsii1970]

5 hours ago, r4pt0r said:

Greek/Roman deities, historical figures, or weapons.
[edited by adsii1970 for relevant content]

We think along the same lines. I did the whole naming after Kerbalized animal names for a while, but after finally making it to the pyramids/temple of Kerbin, I decided that the architecture screamed Maya. So, since that moment, all the vehicle type names, the name of particular vessels, and place names have all been Kerbalized versions of Mayan names. (When I say "Kerbalized, where ever the word has a C or a CH in it, those get changed to K and KH, respectively ).

[The Raging Sandwich]

I normally name my spacecraft and probes after actual spacecraft (or planets in the game.) Take for example my four total manned spacecraft in my current game the Moho spacecraft (Mercury), Eve and Duna spacecraft (Gemini, I had to replace the Eve spacecraft because it kept killing everyone), the Luna spacecraft (Apollo, named after soviet Moon satellites and landers), and the Explorer spacecraft (Orion, named after the first US satellites. Other spacecraft include my various Surveyor probes (named after US Moon lander probes.)

[Curveball Anders]

I usually go for the very boring but functional scheme of having names that indicate the crafts intended use.

Like "Minmus Station One", "Quad Orbital Taxi" and such with some exceptions where I use RL vesel names for my own version of the same. All my resupply ships are names "Progress Mk.something" for example.

 

[Andem]

Mine are typically a word that ends with "er" or "or", something related to the mission typically.