Vote for "Lambdromeda"
Nextage Sr. Systems Engineer Stephanie Bushong, rivals Friend of Nextage–Majed Chahwan from SPHERICAL–in competition to name the NL Space Campus Mascot.
By: Brooke Owen
4 June 2026
The Netherlands –– If you have ever strolled through the soon-to-be NL Space Campus in Noordwijk, you may have spotted something unexpected quietly grazing among the satellite dishes and innovation labs–sheep. These woolly wanderers have become inseparable from the area’s identity, and now they are at the center of a community-wide naming contest that solicited entries from across the European space sector this March at the 2026 Amsterdam Space Symposium.
After careful deliberation, two names made it through to the final round of voting which is open to the public until 10 June 2026, at 18:00 CET. Nextage is proud to share that our very own Sr. Systems Engineer, Stephanie Bushong submitted one of the finalist entries to name the campus's official 3D-printed mascot–a unique space sheep figure crafted by creative technology studio CometLab.
Stephanie's entry: "Lambdromeda"
About the NL Space Campus Mascot
The space sheep mascot itself was conceived as a symbol of the unique spirit of NL Space Campus. Crafted by CometLab, the figure has become an emblem of the campus since its unveiling at the 2026 Amsterdam Space Symposium this March. CometLab says, “the mascot symbolises the combination of technology, creativity, and the distinctive character of the campus community.”
The sentiment of the mascot’s symbolism has been embraced, showcased by the naming process itself becoming a community affair. Amsterdam Space Symposium participants submitted suggestions throughout the event, and after careful review two names advanced to the final public vote. Now the broader space community including industry professionals, researchers, and space enthusiasts alike will decide which name best represents this beacon in European space infrastructure
What is Lambdromeda?
Lambromeda: The sheep isn’t just grazing, she’s ruling a woolly intergalactic empire.
A portmanteau of lamb and Andromeda, which is the nearest large galaxy to our Milky Way home, Lambdromeda is in a linguistic orbit of its own. It simultaneously honors the real sheep that call the campus home, and nods to the vast cosmic ambitions of the contributors to the NL Space Campus. Witty, memorable, and scientifically apt, Lambdromeda is a name that feels tailor-made for a mascot at the crossroads of technology and nature. But we are a little biased… 😉To bring awareness to the competition, Nextage hosted the wooly mascot in a voting display at the 2026 SmallSat Europe conference last month. There was a sign explaining both names in the running, and QR code to access the voting form.
The best part of highlighting this competition at SmallSat Europe? According to Stephanie it was, "Sharing the top spot with my friend Majed and getting to talk with new and familiar faces about the Dutch aerospace ecosystem makes me very thankful for how welcoming the Netherlands has been to myself and Nextage."
Building Awareness at SmallSat Europe
SmallSat Europe gave the team a chance to catch up with many familiar faces, including Majed Chahwan from SPHERICAL, whose mascot name entry “Spolly” is the other finalist going head-to-head with Lambdromeda. Our outreach team first met Majed at the 2026 Amsterdam Space Symposium where we had neighboring booths. We quickly connected with Majed and the SPHERICAL team, bonding over our love of space.
Little did any of us expect to turn from neighbors into competitors just a few short months later. Our team was impressed by the inspiration behind Majed’s entry. He explains, “When I thought about naming the mascot, I wanted a name that reflected both science and space exploration. Spolly was inspired by Dolly the Sheep, a symbol of scientific innovation, combined with the pioneering spirit of the NL Space Campus. The name represents curiosity, discovery, and the next generation of space technology.”
After attending SmallSat Europe, Majed said, “It was fun to take part in the competition. I didn’t expect my submission to make it this far, so it’s been great to see how much engagement it generated.”
What started as a friendly rivalry over a 3D printed space sheep's name has turned into exactly the kind of connection that makes the European space community feel like a community. And it turns out, a little bit of competition is actually a pretty good icebreaker–many people came to visit the Nextage booth simply to ensure their vote on the manner was recorded.
Why This Matters for Nextage
Participation in community initiatives like this reflects something core to Nextage's culture, the belief the space sector thrives when people lead with creativity and humanity. The NL Space Campus is set to become a cornerstone of European space infrastructure, and having a Nextage team member in the running to name its mascot is something we celebrate wholeheartedly.
Should Lambdromeda win, Stephanie will receive a hands-on 3D printing workshop at CometLab, and of course the everlasting honor of having named a mascot that will represent the NL Space Campus community for years to come.
How to Vote
Voting is open to the public, simply complete the form below before it closes. The winning name will be announced in the NL Space Campus newsletter and the CometLab WhatsApp community.
🫵Cast your vote by 10 June 2026 · 18:00 CET
🗳️https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKsMJ_bMU-IcCPsn97McIAuuWNSSdFVRuLXHXh9uPV5pDiug/viewform
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