NASA is providing a unique opportunity to bring us closer to the Moon by allowing us to send our names to orbit it on an upcoming mission.
While naming a cockroach after an ex has become a popular concept, this initiative is far more exciting, and it’s likely the closest many of us will get to the Moon.
Artemis II, NASA’s mission, will launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida by April 2026 at the latest.
This mission marks the first time in over five decades that astronauts will journey around the Moon, a significant step since the Apollo era.
The 10-day expedition will take the astronauts on a 230,000-mile trek from Earth, following a figure-eight course around the Moon’s far side.
At the furthest point, the crew will travel around 4,600 miles beyond the lunar surface before making their return to Earth, culminating in a fiery re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
This mission is a big deal as the crew will be the first to test the new Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
Throughout the mission, the astronauts will conduct various checks on life-support systems and examine human responses to deep space radiation and communication challenges.
In 2023, NASA selected Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Hammock Koch, along with the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen, for the Artemis II mission. They will be trailblazers, contributing to the progress of future lunar and Mars explorations.
Now, you can also be part of this historic moment by having your name travel around the Moon.
The process doesn’t require years of rigorous training or hard work.
NASA has launched the ‘Send Your Name with Artemis II’ campaign, inviting the public to participate free of charge.
To join, simply enter your first and last name and create a pin number on their website.
In return, you will receive a virtual boarding pass with your name and information, making it a collectible item.
The submitted names will be recorded on an SD card that will be aboard Orion when the Artemis II mission takes off in 2026.
Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, expressed, “Artemis II is a key test flight in our effort to return humans to the Moon’s surface and build toward future missions to Mars, and it’s also an opportunity to inspire people across the globe and to give them an opportunity to follow along as we lead the way in human exploration deeper into space.”