NASA plans to send the names of individuals who wish well from all corners of the globe, accompanied by a poem, to Europa. These names will be etched onto a microchip that will be placed on a spacecraft set to launch in October 2024. The spacecraft is expected to reach Europa by 2030.
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Time is running out to send your name to deep space aboard @EuropaClipper! ⏰
Submit your name by Dec. 31 to be engraved on a chip that will travel 1.8 billion mi (2.6 billion km) to explore one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa. Learn more: https://t.co/n4TrYrzNC3 pic.twitter.com/2XS6ZRnm9k — NASA (@NASA) November 13, 2023
Those who are interested can register on a dedicated NASA webpage, where they will be required to provide their complete name, email address, country of residence, and postal code. The deadline for submitting names is December 31, 2023.
Approximately 700,000 names have been received for the initiative thus far. In the upcoming year, these names will be physically engraved onto the microchip using an electron beam microscope.
Each line of text on the microchip measures 75 nanometers in height, which is equivalent to 1/1000th the width of a single strand of human hair. Alongside the names, a poem titled 'In Praise of Mystery' by Ada Limón will also be affixed to the chip. Once completed, the chip will be affixed to the spacecraft's exterior.
Throughout its mission, the spacecraft is anticipated to conduct a minimum of 50 close flybys of Europa. The microchip is projected to cover a distance of 800 million kilometers.
NASA has a longstanding practice of incorporating uplifting messages from humanity in its spacecraft, starting with the inclusion of immersive multimedia encounters alongside the Voyager probes.
Black @NASA_Astronauts share personal stories of breaking barriers, shattering stereotypes, and the importance of representation.
“The Color of Space” Episode 1 drops Nov 22 on NASA+: https://t.co/zZPb3nAtdg pic.twitter.com/ZnU0mLZUom — NASA (@NASA) November 15, 2023
In previous deep space missions, NASA has also provided the opportunity for the public to have their names included on the spacecraft, either digitally or physically.
To mark this experience, NASA is celebrating with a postcard that features your name enclosed in a bottle, positioned in front of a depiction of the Europa Clipper mission during a flyby, with the majestic Jupiter dominating the sky in the backdrop.
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