NASA’s Send Your Name to Mars program offers a unique opportunity for anyone to fly their name to the Red Planet. Since 2003, millions of participants have etched their names onto silicon chips mounted aboard Mars-bound spacecraft. The initiative remains one of the space agency’s most popular public engagement campaigns, requiring nothing more than a free online registration.
The latest confirmed mission to carry these names is the Perseverance rover, which landed in Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. As of October 2024, the rover has traversed more than 30 kilometers across the Martian surface, carrying its cargo of over two million submitted names. Future opportunities may include the Mars Sample Return mission scheduled for 2028.
Participants receive a digital boarding pass and frequent flyer miles as symbolic recognition of their contribution to space exploration. The program connects the public directly to interplanetary missions, transforming abstract scientific endeavors into personal milestones.
How Do I Send My Name to Mars?
Registration occurs through NASA’s official portal. The process requires submitting your name via an online form at mars.nasa.gov/participate/send-your-name. Once submitted, names are etched onto silicon chips using electron beam lithography and mounted on spacecraft bound for Mars.
- Program: NASA’s free public participation campaign open to all
- Method: Names etched on silicon chips flown to Mars
- Current Mission: Check mars.nasa.gov for active campaign status
- Participation: Online submission form with immediate digital confirmation
Key aspects of the program include:
- Over 2 million names flew aboard Perseverance in 2021
- Names survive the Martian environment indefinitely once landed
- Future missions may include Mars Sample Return and Dragonfly to Titan
- Participation remains completely free of charge
- Each name is etched at microscopic scale on durable silicon wafers
- Physical chips are mounted directly onto spacecraft hardware
- Digital boarding passes serve as participation certificates
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start Date | 2003 (Spirit/Opportunity missions) |
| Total Names | Millions across multiple missions |
| Chip Technology | DVD-sized silicon wafer |
| Cost | Free |
| Latest Mission | Mars 2020 Perseverance (2021) |
| Next Opportunity | Check mars.nasa.gov for current campaigns |
| Chip Location | Mounted on spacecraft hardware |
| Current Rover Location | Jezero Crater, Mars |
What Is NASA’s Send Your Name to Mars Program?
The initiative represents NASA’s longest-running public participation campaign for planetary exploration. Launched in 2003 alongside the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, the program allows individuals to symbolically join missions to the Red Planet. Each participant’s name becomes part of the physical spacecraft hardware, creating a permanent record of public support for space exploration.
Which Mars Missions Carry Names?
Multiple missions have carried these memorial chips:
Spirit and Opportunity (2003): The inaugural campaign marked the first time public names flew to Mars aboard the twin rovers.
Curiosity (2012): The Mars Science Laboratory rover carried additional names to Gale Crater.
Perseverance (2020/2021): The most recent mission carried over two million names to Jezero Crater. The rover continues operations today, having driven over 18 miles as of late 2024.
Mars Sample Return (2028): NASA and ESA plan a Mars Sample Return Lander scheduled for launch in 2028, which will land at Jezero Crater to collect samples deposited by Perseverance.
Dragonfly: The planned mission to Saturn’s moon Titan may also include name opportunities.
NASA’s Perseverance rover recently received a new autonomous positioning system called Mars Global Localization. This capability allows the rover to pinpoint its location to within 10 inches (25 centimeters) by matching its own panoramic imagery to orbital terrain maps without waiting for Earth-based confirmation, enabling significantly longer daily travel distances.
What Is the Current Deadline for Submissions?
Submission deadlines vary by mission and typically close months before launch to allow for chip fabrication and installation. NASA announces specific deadlines through its official channels when new missions approach their launch windows.
Can I Still Send My Name to Mars in 2024?
Specific deadlines for 2024 require verification through official NASA channels. Previous campaigns closed prior to their respective launch dates. The EscaPADE mission, originally anticipated for 2024, may have specific deadlines that have passed or may be approaching. For the most current submission windows, consult mars.nasa.gov/participate/send-your-name directly.
Future opportunities likely include the Mars Sample Return mission launching in 2028, though specific submission periods remain unannounced as of this writing.
How Does NASA Actually Send Names to Mars?
The technical process involves electron beam lithography, a manufacturing technique capable of writing text at microscopic scales. Engineers transfer the collected names onto silicon wafers roughly the size of a DVD. These chips withstand the harsh conditions of space travel and Martian surface operations.
The upcoming Mars Sample Return mission represents the next confirmed opportunity for names to reach Mars. Scheduled for a 2028 launch, this joint NASA-ESA mission will retrieve samples collected by Perseverance, potentially carrying new batches of public names to Jezero Crater.
Where Can I Find My Name on Mars?
For Perseverance participants, names reside on a chip mounted aboard the rover currently exploring Jezero Crater. NASA provides photographs of the chip installation on their website, allowing participants to locate their name’s physical placement on the spacecraft. The chip remains visible on the rover’s deck.
Mission schedules and submission deadlines change frequently. Always verify current campaign status and future opportunities directly through NASA’s official Mars program website before planning your participation.
What Is the History of the Send Your Name Program?
- : Spirit and Opportunity missions mark the first Send Your Name campaign, establishing the template for public participation
- : Mars 2020 Perseverance launches carrying over 2 million names from participants worldwide
- : Perseverance successfully lands in Jezero Crater, deploying the name chip to the Martian surface
- : EscaPADE mission opportunities require current status verification through official channels
- : Mars Sample Return Lander scheduled for launch to retrieve Perseverance samples
What Is Known and Unknown About Current Campaigns?
Established Information
- Names are physically flown to Mars and imaged on spacecraft hardware
- NASA has operated this official program since 2003
- Perseverance carries over two million names in Jezero Crater
- The Mars Sample Return mission is scheduled for 2028
- Participation has always been free of charge
Information Requiring Verification
- Exact future deadlines – check mars.nasa.gov for current campaigns
- Current active submission windows for 2024-2025 missions
- Specific landing site photographs for recent chip installations
- Dragonfly mission name submission timeline
Why Does NASA Run This Program?
The campaign serves multiple objectives beyond simple public engagement. By offering a tangible connection to distant missions, NASA cultivates scientific literacy and sustained interest in planetary exploration. Participants often follow “their” missions throughout the multi-year journey from launch to landing, creating a sustained audience for scientific discoveries.
Educationally, the program provides teachers with a free mechanism to engage students in space science. The digital boarding passes and mission updates offer classroom resources that connect curriculum to real-time exploration. While you explore these cosmic opportunities, you might also discover other worlds through entertainment like the Alien Films in Order for a different perspective on extraterrestrial exploration.
The initiative also generates goodwill and public support for funding space exploration. By placing millions of names on Mars, NASA creates a permanent monument to humanity’s collective curiosity, symbolically representing Earth’s population on another world.
What Do Official Sources Say?
“Fly your name to Mars!”
— NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Official documentation confirms that names are etched onto silicon chips using electron beam technology and mounted on spacecraft hardware. For specific mission details and current submission opportunities, mars.nasa.gov/participate/send-your-name serves as the authoritative source. Technical specifications regarding chip placement on specific rovers are available through mission spacecraft documentation.
What Are the Key Takeaways?
NASA’s Send Your Name to Mars program offers free participation for anyone wishing to fly their name to the Red Planet. Since 2003, millions of names have traveled aboard various missions, with Perseverance currently carrying over two million names across Jezero Crater. While future opportunities including the 2028 Mars Sample Return mission are anticipated, current submission deadlines require verification through official NASA channels. For those interested in exploring futuristic worlds while waiting for their name to reach Mars, the New Star Wars Game offers another form of interplanetary adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current deadline to send my name?
Deadlines vary by mission and typically close months before launch. Check mars.nasa.gov/participate/send-your-name for active campaigns, as schedules change frequently.
Can I still send my name to Mars in 2024?
Specific 2024 opportunities depend on current mission schedules. Previous campaigns have closed prior to launch dates. Verify current status directly through NASA’s official website.
Which Mars missions carry names?
Confirmed missions include Spirit/Opportunity (2003), Curiosity (2012), and Perseverance (2021). Future missions include Mars Sample Return (2028) and potentially Dragonfly to Titan.
Where can I find my name on Mars?
Perseverance participants can view photographs of the name chip mounted on the rover deck. The rover currently operates in Jezero Crater, having driven over 30 kilometers since landing.
Is sending a name to Mars free?
Yes. NASA charges no fees for participation. The program requires only an online form submission through their official portal.
How does NASA etch names on chips?
Engineers use electron beam lithography to write names at microscopic scale onto DVD-sized silicon wafers. These chips are then mounted on spacecraft hardware.
How many names are currently on Mars?
Perseverance alone carries over two million names. Combined with previous missions like Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity, millions of names now reside on the Martian surface.
Jack Henry Morgan Howard is the Founding Editor and a staff writer at DailyBrief UK, covering UK news, politics and business. He works to the newsroom's sourcing and fact-checking standards under Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Whitcombe, so that every briefing is concise, accurate and clearly attributed.