In 2026, history is being made — and your name can be part of it. For the first time in over 50 years, a crewed NASA mission will fly around the Moon and back: Artemis II is slated to launch no later than April 2026 aboard the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. Alongside the four astronauts who will pilot this voyage, millions of people worldwide can send their names on this journey — orbiting the Moon and returning home.
This commemorative initiative — “Send Your Name with Artemis II” — is free, open globally, and offers a symbolic way to participate in a landmark moment for space exploration. Here’s how it works, why it’s special, and how you can still claim your spot.
What Is the Artemis II Name Submission Program?
NASA is collecting names from people all over the world to be carried aboard Artemis II on a tiny storage medium inside the spacecraft. Your name won’t be visible or spoken on the mission, but it will travel with the crew as the spacecraft loops around the Moon and back to Earth — a journey of more than 685,000 miles.
Once you sign up, NASA generates a digital boarding pass bearing your name and mission details — a fun keepsake to commemorate your “place” on this historic flight.
This outreach activity doesn’t influence any technical or scientific aspects of the mission, nor does it change how the spacecraft operates; it’s purely symbolic and meant to engage the public in space exploration.
Why This Opportunity Is Special
“Send Your Name” campaigns are not entirely new for NASA — similar initiatives have flown names on Mars missions and other spacecraft. But Artemis II is unique because it’s the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit in more than half a century.
That means your name will travel farther into deep space than most programs have allowed before, encircling the Moon alongside scientists, engineers, and astronauts pushing the boundaries of human exploration.
Artemis II: The Mission in Brief
Before we get into the sign‑up details, it helps to understand what Artemis II actually is:
- Artemis II is the first crewed mission in NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program.
- It will carry four astronauts — Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — on an approximately 10‑day voyage around the Moon before returning to Earth.
- The mission will test life support, navigation, communications, and other deep‑space systems in preparation for future lunar surface missions, including Artemis III and eventual missions to Mars.
The public name submission isn’t a technical requirement, but it symbolically invites people across the globe to join in this milestone.
How the Name Submission Works
Here’s a step-by‑step guide to participating:
1. Visit NASA’s Official Page
NASA has set up a dedicated “Send Your Name” portal on its official website. This is the only authorized platform for submitting names; third‑party sites are not endorsed by NASA.
2. Enter Your Details
You’ll be asked to submit your first and last name on an online form. An email address is required for confirmation purposes.
3. Choose Your Language
The form can be filled out in English or Spanish, making it accessible to many participants worldwide.
4. Create a PIN
Participants create a short personal PIN (typically 4‑7 digits), which gives them future access to their boarding pass. It’s important to save this PIN, as NASA cannot recover it later.
5. Submit Before the Deadline
The deadline to sign up was January 21, 2026, meaning submissions officially closed around then.
If you signed up before that date, your name will be included on the digital memory card aboard Artemis II.
6. Download Your Digital Boarding Pass
Once completed, NASA provides a downloadable artifact — a boarding pass — that features your name and details about the mission. This makes for a unique keepsake or gift.
What Happens to Your Name in Space?
After submission and before the mission’s launch, NASA will compile all the submitted names into a digital file stored on a memory card inside the Orion spacecraft. When Artemis II launches, this card — carrying potentially millions of names — will orbit the Moon (but not land on its surface).
While you won’t physically be on the spacecraft, your name shares the voyage with the crew on the same trajectory that human explorers follow beyond Earth’s gravity well.
Who Can Participate?
This opportunity is open to people worldwide — anyone with internet access and a valid name to submit. NASA has even encouraged some participants to add names of friends, family members, or pets, making the experience more personal and inclusive.
There is no fee to participate, making this a truly accessible way to be part of lunar history.
Benefits and Keepsakes
Although this experience is symbolic, it offers several meaningful takeaways:
- A digital boarding pass with your name and mission details.
- A sense of participation in one of humanity’s great exploration milestones.
- A unique gift or memento for space enthusiasts.
- A new way to share interest in science and exploration with future generations.
Many participants also enjoy following Artemis II’s progress online — from launch preparations to in‑orbit coverage — knowing their name is aboard.
What Comes After Artemis II?
NASA’s Artemis program has a long roadmap:
- Artemis III aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface, including the Moon’s South Pole.
- Subsequent Artemis missions will establish sustainable exploration, scientific discovery, and the foundation for deeper space missions, including Mars.
While future campaigns may offer similar “name flight” opportunities, Artemis II is the first crewed lunar flyby where this participatory program has been offered.
Conclusion
The “Send Your Name with Artemis II” initiative is a rare chance to connect personally with a historic space mission. By submitting your name online before the January 2026 deadline, you’ve joined millions of people around the world whose names will orbit the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft in April 2026. Whether you’re a lifelong space fan or someone looking for a meaningful way to mark this era of exploration, having your name travel beyond Earth is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience.