The votes are in, and Roo-ver is the name of Australia’s rover that will head to the Moon with NASA in a future Artemis mission.

As part of a nationwide competition, which entailed 8000 entries and nearly 20,000 public votes, Roo-ver was announced as the winning name from the top four shortlist. With 35 per cent of the votes, voters felt Roo-ver reflected the Australian spirit.

The other three shortlisted names were:

• Kakirra - Submitted by Hamilton Secondary College in South Australia, the name is translated from the Kaurna region and means 'moon' and is a tribute to the history of Australia. Kakirra finished in second place, with 26 per cent of the vote.
• Coolamon - Capturing the essence of our Indigenous heritage and connection to the land, a coolamon is a multi-purpose, sustainable tool used for gathering and carrying. Coolamon received 25 per cent of the vote.
• Mateship - From the spirit of the Anzacs to your mate at the local footy club, mateship is a crucial part of Australian culture. Thirteen per cent of voters went with Mateship.

Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo found the high engagement from the Australian public a promising sign for the future.

“This competition has been an important way for us to bring the Australian people with us on what is our boldest adventure yet," Mr Palermo said.

"With Roo-ver we can continue to inspire Australians by showing the boundary pushing work being done right here, and the ways that space benefits our everyday lives."

The name Roo-ver will be engraved on the side of the rover before it heads to the moon in early 2026 to collect lunar soil.

South Australia is home to more than 100 space organisations with most located at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide's CBD.

At the heart of it is the Australian Space Agency, which is working in partnership with NASA and the nation's space industry to design and build the semi-autonomous rover, as part of its Trailblazer program.

NASA will attempt to extract oxygen from the lunar soil sample, which is a key step towards a sustainable human presence on the moon.