NASA Invites You to Join Artemis II Mission to the Moon

NASA has announced an initiative that allows individuals to send their names aboard the upcoming Artemis II mission, scheduled for April 2026. This program, titled “Send Your Name with Artemis II,” offers a unique opportunity for space enthusiasts to become part of a significant chapter in human exploration. The mission will feature a crew of four astronauts who will perform a flyby of the Moon, marking a vital step in NASA’s ongoing efforts to return humans to lunar exploration.

The Artemis II mission is part of a broader initiative aimed at advancing space exploration in preparation for future missions to Mars. NASA’s Artemis program has been described as a four-part plan, with Artemis I successfully demonstrating the capabilities of the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft in late 2022. Following this, Artemis II will be the first crewed mission, with astronauts including Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, and Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Victor Glover from NASA.

According to Lori Glaze, NASA’s acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, this mission serves not only as a scientific endeavor but also as an inspiration for people worldwide. “This flight is 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,” Glaze stated.

NASA has made the process of participating straightforward. Individuals interested in sending their names to the Moon can apply until January 21, 2026. By visiting NASA’s Artemis II Sign Up page, users can input their names and select a personal PIN code. As of now, over 490,450 names have already been submitted to be included on an SD card that will travel aboard the Orion spacecraft.

The Artemis program is not merely a return to the Moon; it represents a significant leap toward deeper space exploration, particularly Mars. NASA estimates that a mission to Mars could take approximately three years, compared to just three days for a journey to the Moon. The knowledge gained from Artemis missions is intended to lay the groundwork for future manned missions to the Red Planet.

As humanity embarks on this new era of space exploration, the Artemis II mission symbolizes a collective ambition to not only reach new celestial bodies but also to inspire generations to come. With the opportunity to send names to the Moon, NASA is inviting people to share in this historic journey and to contribute to an ongoing legacy of discovery.

To retrieve a boarding pass after registering, participants can visit the Look Up Boarding Pass page, where they can also find a blank version of the pass for reference. The mission will cover a distance of 685,000 miles as it orbits the Moon, further demonstrating NASA’s commitment to innovative technologies and the future of human spaceflight.

In an age where space exploration seems more accessible than ever, NASA’s initiatives like “Send Your Name with Artemis II” serve as reminders of the potential for human achievement and the enduring fascination with the cosmos.