An 8-year-old central New York girl is hoping for an out-of-this-world honor.
Adia Bulawa of Ava is one of nine students in the country with a chance at naming the next Mars Rover, scheduled for launch in 2011.
The second-grader at Ridge Mills Elementary School in Rome outlasted more than 9,000 other entrants to emerge as a finalist in the NASA-sponsored contest.
Her suggestion -- Amelia, after Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
She also had to submit an essay explaining her choice.
If she wins, Adia also gets to sign her name on the Rover.
The winner is being chosen through an online vote that's now under way.
NASA will announce the winner sometime during the last week of April or first week of May.
8-Year-Old Girl Could Name Next Mars Rover
Copyright AP - Associated Press
