“Curiosity. InSight. Spirit. Opportunity,” he wrote. “If you think about it, all of these names of past Mars rovers are qualities we possess as humans. We are always curious, and seek opportunity. We have the spirit and insight to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. But, if rovers are to be the qualities of us as a race, we missed the most important thing. Perseverance.”

Perseverance, which was built at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., is now at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final preparations before it launches to space in July. Part of Alex’s prize is a trip to watch the launch.

The name is etched on a plate that protects the rover’s robotic arm from rocks.

During a NASA event announcing the name, Alex recalled a trip to Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., and seeing a giant model of a Saturn 5 rocket that is there. “Eleven-year-old me saw that and lost his mind,” he said. “I immediately knew that space is something I was doing for the rest of my life.”

Perseverance is scheduled to land on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021. NASA has previously landed four rovers on Mars successfully; no other country has accomplished that feat, although the Soviet Union and China have landed rovers on the moon.