On March 4, 2021, the Perseverance rover began to move from its landing pad on Mars. During this trip, the rover traveled 6.5 meters and performed some basic maneuvers and instrument tests. In keeping with a NASA tradition of mission controllers giving unofficial nicknames to various geological features, the team also dedicated the landing site by naming it after a famous science fiction writer.
From now on, the place where Perseverance landed is known as “Octavia E. Butler Landing” in honor of the pioneering science fiction writer who died in 2006 (she was 59 years old). Known for being the first African American woman to win both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, Butler was the first woman science fiction writer to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship (1995).
This decision coincided with the 15th anniversary of Octavia E. Butler’s death on February 24th. Butler’s impressive work includes the novels Kindred, Bloodchild, Speech Sounds, Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Talents, and the Patternist franchise. While her work was speculative and futuristic, it was always based on how she explored topics such as race, gender, equality, and humanity.
Butler on a signing in 2005. Photo credit: Nikolas Coukouma / Wikipedia Commons
Said Kathryn Stack Morgan, assistant project scientist for perseverance.
“Butler’s protagonists embody determination and ingenuity, which makes them perfect for the Perseverance rover mission and the subject of overcoming challenges. Butler inspired and influenced the planetary science community and many beyond, including those typically underrepresented in STEM areas. “
When it comes to science fiction subjects and elements, Butler was known for her explorations of history, trauma, hierarchical power structures, survival, time travel, the impact of technology, and creating alternative communities. In Kindred, her bestseller, a young African American woman (Dana) travels from 1976 in Los Angeles to Maryland in the early 19th century (before the Civil War).
There she meets her ancestors, a black free woman who was later forced into slavery (Alice) and a white slave owner (Rufus). The story is based on slave narratives and examines the realities of slavery in America from the point of view of modern sensitivity. The book was an instant classic and was awarded the 2003 Book of the Year award by the City of Rochester, New York.
Also in the 1970s, Butler published a number of novels that made up her Patternist series. These books focused on a future society where genetically engineered telepathy has created a new power structure in society. In the 1980s, Butler released her Bloodchild and Xenogenesis trilogy, which take place on alien worlds where humans are forced to coexist and even cross with alien species in order to survive.
But perhaps her most famous work was the Parable series written in the 1990s. Consisting of the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Talents, these stories focus on a community’s struggle for survival after the collapse of 21st century America. The series explores topics ranging from environmental stewardship and corporate greed to race, power and the growing gap between the rich and the poor.
This decision is in line with NASA tradition of mission controllers giving various geological features unofficial nicknames. This previously happened with the landing site of the Curiosity Rover, dubbed “Bradbury Landing” in 2012 in honor of famous fiction writer Ray Bradbury (whose work includes the collection of short stories collectively known as The Martian Chronicles).
Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA Assistant Administrator for Science, said:
“I can’t think of a better person to mark this historic landing site than Octavia E. Butler, who not only grew up next to JPL in Pasadena, but also inspired millions with her visions of a science-based future. Their guiding principle, “When You Apply Science Exactly” is what NASA’s science team is all about. Their work continues to inspire today’s scientists and engineers around the world – all in the name of a braver, fairer future for all. “
While the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is responsible for assigning official names to astronomical objects and geographic features, the tradition of informal naming is an important aspect of space exploration. These nicknames are not recognized informally, but rather pay homage to individuals who have played an important role in furthering exploration – be it in the physical universe or in the human condition.
Endurance Rover Landing Ellipse in Jezero Crater. Photo credit: ESA / DLR / FU-Berlin / NASA / JPL-Caltech
Octavia E. Butler is in good company, and her name now replaces a new frontier in human exploration. Hopefully, as people begin to set foot on the Red Planet (and maybe even settle there), their words and inspired work will continue to open people’s eyes and expand their awareness of the worlds we carry ourselves with everywhere.
Perseverance will continue to examine Jezero crater to learn more about what conditions were like on Mars billions of years ago. In addition, soil and regolith samples are being collected to find clues about past life on Mars. It will also be the first rover to back up samples in a cache that will be retrieved by a future NASA-ESA mission and brought back to Earth for analysis.
Further reading: NASA, CNN
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