Comments on: "Bang, zoom, straight to the moon!"

"Bang, zoom, straight to the moon!"

ericb — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:43:31 -0800

NASA invites you to join this autumn's lunar exploration with the opportunity to send your name to the moon. Your name will be included in a database contained on a microchip and placed aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft. Submit your name here.

"The orbiter, comprised of six instruments and one technology demonstration, will provide the most comprehensive data set ever returned from the moon. The mission will focus on the selection of safe landing sites and identification of lunar resources. It also will study how the lunar radiation environment could affect humans. LRO will also create a comprehensive atlas of the moon's features and resources that will be needed as NASA designs and builds a planned lunar outpost. The mission will support future human exploration while providing a foundation for upcoming science missions."

The LRO Mission [.mpg video] Cathy Peddie, Deputy Project Manager talks about the LRO mission [embedded video] Building the LRO [.wmv video]

By: OverlappingElvis

OverlappingElvis — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:06:45 -0800

I've always loved the idea of sending a message (even just my name) out into space. At OMSI (science museum in Portland, Oregon) they used to have this thing where you could type a message and have it broadcast from a dish on the roof out towards deep space. I used to love to write messages for aliens there and hope that someday one of them would be read... This was as a little kid, of course, but I still feel that way a little.

By: snofoam

snofoam — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:09:29 -0800

this is cool. also, my browser autofilled my last name. you know, 'cause i fill out forms to send my name into space all the time.

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:11:20 -0800

Great, so after the cosmic rays flip a few bits I can look forward to alien junk mail with my name spelled wrong. "BruthorGaine, you may have already won an all expense trip to the Gythtarik nebula!"

By: wfrgms

wfrgms — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:13:28 -0800

NASA: Your name on a micro chip. Richard Milhous Nixon's on a big fucking metal plaque.

By: ...possums

...possums — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:13:32 -0800

This is an obvious attempt by aliens to farm human names for experimentation! All your names are belong to us.

By: DU

DU — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:27:45 -0800

My name? In a database?? Whoa!

By: grobstein

grobstein — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:33:14 -0800

That's not an astronaut, it's a TV comedian. And he was just using space travel as a metaphor for beating his wife.

By: Sailormom

Sailormom — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:42:45 -0800

In 1945 the Nazis went to the moon. In 2018 they are coming back. With your personal info! Seriously though, this looks pretty cool. I'll be adding my neighbors name just to be safe.

By: flotson

flotson — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:46:07 -0800

I sent Federico Garcia Lorca's name to the moon instead. This ought to pretty well cancel out Richard Nixon.

By: P.o.B.

P.o.B. — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:51:53 -0800

I can't decide if I want to send: Mike Rotch or Hugh Jass

By: DU

DU — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:09:54 -0800

If you don't send both you'll experience some discomfort.

By: griphus

griphus — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:12:55 -0800

Helpim Trappedinthe Orbiter

By: illiad

illiad — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:29:36 -0800

Don't anyone type in goatse or anything. An alien race coming across that would either 1) declare war on us after ripping out their eyestalks, or 2) think that the Earth was populated by nothing but assholes. _{He writes, wryly.}

By: cowbellemoo

cowbellemoo — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:15:52 -0800

No I do not want my name on your space litter.

By: konolia

konolia — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:21:54 -0800

I put in Alice Kramden. Only fitting.

By: philcliff

philcliff — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:52:27 -0800

I went with I.P. Daly

By: yhbc

yhbc — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:13:36 -0800

Okay, "Alice" worked, after I put in a blank space in the last name field. To the MOON!

By: mazola

mazola — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:45:42 -0800

Out of respect: Jules Verne Because I can: Mr. Poopypants

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:59:21 -0800

YeS We WaNt All yOUr NaMEs oN A liST So wE KnoW wHo tO kILl fIRsT!!!

By: Arnolfini

Arnolfini — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:18:27 -0800

How disappointing. Of course NASA are scientists and wouldn't understand that people want to write a message, not their boring names for aliens to read. Imagine if it was us receiving the messages, which list would you rather have? "Anof Bibelroex Tinami SZnuffl Clod BYzeteen..." or "HELP, they are killing us!!!" "Do UFO's Exist?" ...

By: gum

gum — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:33:10 -0800

I just sent my name to the moon with my mind. It was effortless. Give it a try!

By: subgear

subgear — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:29:39 -0800

I sent my name. Next thing you know I'm inundated with alien pokes. And not the good kind.

By: Kirth Gerson

Kirth Gerson — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:42:19 -0800

Oh, sure - put my name in a database. Next thing you know, I'm on the No-Launch list.

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:16:26 -0800

Through the stars, the vessel glided. Within its internals, slept several billion human occupants, awaiting the moment in which they would reach their new home, so many light-years away. As the descendants of Old Earth began their first steps into the veldt in earnest, the memories of their former home were not forgotten; above the sleeper pods of the generation ship, were a series of platinum tiles, bearing the names of those who inspired the voyagers, if not their ancestors. BARNEY RUBBLE MONTESSORI LITTLE LEAGUE THE HITS 97 MORNING ZOO CREW When the immigrants to the stars reached their destination, they would not be alone, for they would carry the spirit of the personalities who stood before them. GENERAL ELECTRIC FRANK, IDA, SPRINKLES AND THE ENTIRE DONALDSON FAMILY ADNY'S CAR WASH (sic) In turn, the planet serving as the craft's destination would become the new home of the slumbering pilgrims. Earth would be a state of mind, as the surrogate would fill the role of the former, not forgotten home. The tiles would help show the way.

By: Gungho

Gungho — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:09:32 -0800

Doesn't like Safari

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Sat, 10 May 2008 15:49:07 -0800

Their form validation sucks. You have to have a first and last name, but a blank space is a valid last name?

By: Atreides

Atreides — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:33:18 -0800

Somewhere out there, there's a program accepting recorded or written messages to be placed on a probe to be launched in the near future. The program director has stated he'll leave messages up of any type (nice/hate/etc), I suppose, as representative of humanity. I heard it on NPR and that is all I recall. Meh. This name thing was mentioned during that article. Ah. Found it. Its the Kepler mission and its 500 word messages. Double spaced, size 12 font, plz.

By: Spidermaster

Spidermaster — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:00:38 -0800

Ooh! I'm glad possums told us about the aliens farming these names for experimentation. I almost put my name in. Now I've included possums name instead. Sorry, possums. Good luck!