Your Name Could Travel To The Moon With NASA’s Artemis II Mission: Here’s How To Enrol

NASA is preparing for its Artemis II mission, which is expected to launch in 2026 and will carry four astronauts on a journey around the Moon and back to Earth. The mission will last about 10 days and is designed to test critical systems and hardware needed for future human missions deeper into space.

The upcoming flight will mark the first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, making it a major milestone in NASA's space exploration programme. Artemis II is seen as an important step toward landing astronauts on the Moon again and eventually sending humans to Mars.

Send Your Name to the Moon: How the Public Can Take Part

As part of its "Send Your Name with Artemis II" campaign, NASA is offering people around the world a chance to be part of the historic mission. Anyone can submit their name online, and it will be stored on an SD card that will travel aboard the Orion spacecraft.

Participants who register will also receive a digital boarding pass with their name on it as a keepsake. The registration process is simple and only requires a first name, last name, and a four- to seven-digit PIN. The deadline to submit names is January 21, 2026.

NASA has previously launched similar initiatives, allowing names to travel on missions to Mars, the Sun, and Jupiter's moon Europa.

Who Will Be Onboard Artemis II?

The Artemis II mission will carry four astronauts: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. This will be the first time astronauts fly on NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule.

NASA officials said the mission is meant to inspire people worldwide while testing systems that will be used for future Moon landings. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator at NASA, said Artemis II is a key step in returning humans to the Moon and preparing for future missions to Mars.

Preparing for Launch and the Road Ahead

NASA recently rolled out the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft as part of its preparations. The launch is expected to take place from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, possibly as early as April 2026.

The SLS rocket, which has been under development for more than a decade, is a heavy-lift vehicle built using some recycled space shuttle components. While the programme has faced criticism over high costs and delays, NASA says Artemis II is essential for restarting long-term human exploration beyond Earth.

The earlier Artemis I mission in 2022 successfully sent an uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon. If Artemis II goes as planned and funding continues, Artemis III could land astronauts on the Moon's surface as early as 2027.

Despite modern technology, space exploration remains challenging. NASA is working under tight budgets and increasing competition, including efforts by China to expand its lunar programme. Still, Artemis II represents a major step forward in humanity's return to deep space.