Subscribe free to our newsletters via your




MARSDAILY
You can't get to Mars, but your name can
by Brooks Hays
Washington (UPI) Oct 31, 2014


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

As it stands now, only a select few people will get to visit Mars in the coming decades. But while you're stuck here on Earth, your name can be touring the Red Planet and other popular solar system destinations. That's right, NASA is promising to take your name to everywhere its Orion spacecraft goes.

More than 1.3 million people have sent their names to NASA. The monikers will be stored on a microchip and installed in the spacecraft, which will take its first test flight in December. Participants will have to wait a while before they can brag to their friends about their Martian-bound name.

Orion will be sticking closer to home on its first couple of test runs. Its Dec. 4 launch will see the craft travel 3,600 miles from home, circle the Earth twice, then return at speeds of 20,000 mph. The unmanned trip will only last 4.5 hours.

But Orion is built for deep space travel and is expected to eventually carry astronauts to Mars and beyond. The craft will continue to carry the name-filled microchip on future trips, accruing frequent flyer miles for Earth's out-of-body travelers.

"NASA is pushing the boundaries of exploration and working hard to send people to Mars in the future," Mark Geyer, Orion Program manager, said in a statement. "When we set foot on the Red Planet, we'll be exploring for all of humanity. Flying these names will enable people to be part of our journey."

If you want to go to space (even if in name only), there's still time. The sign-up period is open through midnight Eastern Time on Oct. 31. Register on NASA's website.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








MARSDAILY
NASA Seeks Ultra-lightweight Materials to Help Enable Journey to Mars
Washington DC (SPX) Oct 28, 2014
NASA is seeking proposals to develop and manufacture ultra-lightweight materials for aerospace vehicles and structures of the future. Proposals will demonstrate lower-mass alternatives to honeycomb or foam cores currently used in composite sandwich structures. Composite sandwich structures are a special type of material made by attaching two thin skins to a lightweight core. This type of c ... read more


MARSDAILY
Indians angry Anderson never tried over Bhopal disaster

Italy ignores pleas, ends boat migrant rescue operation

Love offers fresh dreams for Philippine typhoon survivors

Philippine typhoon widow grateful for cruel consolation

MARSDAILY
A GPS from the chemistry set

No Galileo nav-sat launch for December - Arianespace

Russian Bank Offers 5 Billion Rubles for GLONASS

Galileo duo handed over in excellent shape

MARSDAILY
Patents for humanity: Special edition of Technology and Innovation

Psychedelic mushrooms enable a hyperconnected brain

Free urban data - what's it good for?

Urban seismic network detects human sounds

MARSDAILY
Emerging disease could wipe out American, European salamanders

Europe has 421 million fewer birds than 30 years ago: study

Does it help conservation to put a price on nature?

Philippines' rare dwarf buffalo charges against extinction

MARSDAILY
Flu or Ebola? US hospitals prepare for a confusing season

China to quarantine Ebola doctors returning from W Africa: official

US envoy says France can do more to fight Ebola

Nasal spray may offer long-lasting protection from Ebola virus

MARSDAILY
Spanish gallery showcases Chinese dissident Ai Wei Wei's works

Hong Kong activists mull taking protest to Beijing

Fewer Chinese couples want second child than expected: media

Bodysnatching China officials dead serious about cremation quota

MARSDAILY
MARSDAILY
China manufacturing growth slows in October: govt

Bank of Japan expands monetary easing plan as economy slows

Shanghai mayor pledges to speed up FTZ reform

China October manufacturing at tepid three-month high: HSBC




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.