As you may or may not know, NASA aims to return to the moon. In 2010, the Space Shuttle will fly for the last time, to be succeeded in 2013 by the Orion crew vehicle (part of project constellation), a capsule which looks a lot like a modern version of the Apollo command modules that between 1968 and 1972 sent 24 humans to the moon, half of which walked on it (one major difference is that the Orion will be reusable up to ten times; the Apollo capsules could be used only once).
The Orion will not only be used for supply missions to the International Space Station (taking over those duties from the Space Shuttle), it will also take humans to the moon (no later than 2020, according to NASA). Further plans include establishing a permanent settlement on the moon, learning to live and work on another planet, and to use this knowledge and technology for human exploration of Mars in the first half of the 21st century (again according to NASA). As a fan of space exploration I regret not having witnessed any of the original moon landings, so it would be great if they could pull all this off (especially if they go to Mars in my lifetime that would be awesome).
To gather detailed information about the moon (e.g. about possible landing sites) NASA is first sending the unmanned Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter. And you can send your name with it. If you register your name on this site, it will become part of a database that will be put on a chip on the LRO, so your name will be in orbit of the moon.
Yes, it's completely pointless. I don't care, it's just a fun idea. :)
2010-07-26 12:53 UTC
IT;S VERY GOOD DONE NASA
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