NASA is inviting the public to participate in its upcoming Artemis II mission by sending their names on a special SD card aboard the spacecraft. Scheduled for April 2026, this mission marks a significant milestone in the agency’s efforts to return humans to the Moon and eventually explore Mars.
The Artemis II mission will feature a crew of four astronauts: the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen, along with NASA’s Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Victor Glover. Unlike previous missions, Artemis II will not land on the lunar surface but will instead conduct a flyby, covering approximately 685,000 miles and providing valuable data for future exploration.
Public Participation in Space Exploration
NASA’s initiative allows those interested to have their names included on the SD card that will accompany the astronauts. As of now, over 490,450 names have already been registered. Individuals can secure their “boarding pass” by signing up on NASA’s official Artemis II page before January 21, 2026. The process is straightforward: participants need to provide their first and last names along with a unique PIN code, which is crucial as it cannot be recovered once lost.
The significance of this mission extends beyond mere participation. As Lori Glaze, NASA’s acting associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, noted, this flight serves as an opportunity to inspire people worldwide, showcasing humanity’s journey into deeper space exploration.
The Artemis Program’s Broader Goals
The Artemis program is part of a broader strategy to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, which could serve as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars. NASA aims to leverage the knowledge gained from lunar exploration to prepare for the challenges of interplanetary travel.
In 2025, NASA described the current era as a “Golden Age of innovation and exploration,” emphasizing the importance of the Artemis missions. The Artemis I mission, which took place between November and December 2022, successfully tested the Orion spacecraft without a crew. This initial step provided crucial data regarding conditions in space, setting the stage for the upcoming crewed mission.
The Artemis IV mission is planned to culminate in establishing a lunar space station, further enhancing our capabilities for exploration beyond the Moon. As humanity’s aspirations reach for Mars—a journey estimated to take approximately three years—NASA remains committed to pushing the boundaries of exploration.
As interest in space travel grows, the Artemis II mission presents a unique opportunity for the public to feel connected to this monumental effort. By participating, individuals are not only claiming a piece of history but also joining a collective journey that could redefine our understanding of the universe.
