When was the last time your name was more lucky than you? If never, this may be your chance. For Nasa has launched the 'Send your name on InSight' contest.
Through this contest, enthusiasts from around the world can now add their names to a silicon microchip headed for the Red Planet aboard Nasa's InSight Mars lander, whose launch is scheduled for next year.
"Our next step in the journey to Mars is another fantastic mission to the surface," said Jim Green, director of planetary science at Nasa headquarters in Washington. "By participating in this opportunity to send your name aboard InSight to the Red Planet, you're showing that you're part of that journey and the future of space exploration."
Nasa has also encouraged participation by awarding “frequent flier” points to reflect an individual's personal participation in Nasa’s journey to Mars spanning across multiple missions and multiple decades. The submissions will be accepted till September 8.
The InSight mission is Nasa's second such programme that enables explorers and enthusiasts to fly their names into the space aboard a Nasa probe. In December 2014, around 1.38 million people 'flew on a chip' aboard the first flight of Nasa's Orion spacecraft, which is to carry astronauts to deep space destinations including Mars and an asteroid.
InSight will launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California in March 2016 and land on Mars September 28, 2016. The mission is the first dedicated to the investigation of the deep interior of the planet.
