Bang, Zoom ...
Tuesday, 15. July 2008, 09:54:51
I'm a sucker for the whole exploration of space thing. Always have been.
As such, I just found this article about the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Billed as NASA's first step back to the moon, the LRO is due to launch later this year from the Kennedy Space Center.
The orbiter will gather 'the most comprehensive data set ever returned from the moon' as it looks for safe landing sites for future missions.
The really cool thing about this mission, though (aside from the fact that they're finally taking steps to go back to the moon), is that NASA is giving people the chance to be part of it, by letting you add your name to a database that will be stored on a microchip embedded into the spacecraft. People who add their names get a certificate, which they can either print, or save as a .pdf file.
Although the Send Your Name to the Moon page says that the deadline was the 27th of June, 2008, said deadline has been extended to the 25th of July, meaning that - if you want to be in on it - as of this writing, you've got ten days left to go here and sign up.
I know ... it's just your name on a microchip on a spacecraft that'll orbit the moon for a while ... but it's probably the closest most of us will get.
'See' you there.
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