Send your valentine to the moon: NASA's Artemis 2 name submission open
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): It's difficult for ordinary people to travel to the moon, but did you know that your name or that of a loved one could easily reach the moon? For Valentine's Day, NASA has offered a surprise opportunity to send this name into lunar orbit.
"Need an extra surprise to delight your loved one this Valentine's Day? Send their name on a trip to the moon! Whoever you love is welcome aboard the Artemis II mission," NASA posted on social media platform X.
NASA is inviting people to submit their own or loved ones' names for free. These names will be stored on an SD card that will fly with the Orion spacecraft in 2026. Submitting your name will earn you a special digital "boarding pass," which you can print and give as a Valentine's Day gift, like a special space ticket.
NASA explained how to submit a name. Sharing the form on its official website, NASA said, "Go to the website and click on 'Send Your Name with Artemis.' Enter your first name, last name, and a 4- to 7-digit PIN. Then, submit and download your boarding pass. It's completely free, and people from all over the world can participate. Millions of names have already been registered."
It is part of NASA's Artemis program. Artemis II will be the first manned lunar mission in more than 50 years, carrying four astronauts to orbit the Moon and return. The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman of NASA, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency. They will fly aboard the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. The mission will last approximately 10 days and will pass behind the Moon, reaching the farthest point in deep space since the Apollo missions. Its primary objective is to prepare for future human landings on the lunar surface and missions to Mars.
NASA provided an update on the mission, stating, "Mission preparations are ongoing. The confidence test on February 12th encountered some technical difficulties, including a reduced liquid hydrogen flow and problems with ground equipment. The team is reviewing the data, replacing filters, and will conduct a second wet dress rehearsal this month. A launch is expected in March 2026."