Artemis II Mission: Send Your Name Around the Moon

Have you ever dreamed of having your name travel beyond Earth and around the Moon? NASA turned that idea into a symbolic reality through the Artemis II mission and its “Send Your Name with Artemis II” program.

The initiative allowed people around the world to submit their names for a digital list stored on an SD card aboard the Orion spacecraft. Participants could then download a commemorative boarding pass.

Registration closed on January 21, 2026. The Artemis II mission subsequently launched on April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts around the Moon before returning safely to Earth on April 10.

Although the registration period has ended, the program remains an interesting part of NASA’s effort to connect the public with human space exploration.

Artemis II Mission: A Historic Journey Around the Moon

NASA’s Artemis II mission was the first crewed mission under the Artemis campaign. It carried four astronauts on a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth.

The crew included NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The mission launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026. The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carried the Orion spacecraft into space.

During the flight, the crew tested Orion’s systems and spacecraft operations in the deep-space environment. They also performed a historic lunar flyby.

At its farthest point, the crew traveled 252,756 miles from Earth. They came within 4,067 miles of the Moon’s surface during the lunar flyby.

The mission ended with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on April 10, 2026.

How the “Send Your Name” Program Worked

NASA’s “Send Your Name with Artemis II” program was designed to give the public a symbolic connection to the mission.

The process was free and relatively simple. Participants submitted their names through NASA’s registration system before the January 21, 2026 deadline.

Names were collected and stored on an SD card. NASA then placed that card aboard Orion before launch.

Participants could also download a commemorative boarding pass containing their name.

Therefore, people did not physically travel to the Moon. Instead, their names traveled aboard the spacecraft as part of the mission’s public-engagement program.

Registration Is Now Closed

The registration deadline has passed, so new participants can no longer add their names to the Artemis II list.

However, people who registered can still use their information and PIN to access their boarding pass through NASA’s program page, where available. NASA’s official page also notes that boarding passes were claimed as part of the initiative.

This distinction is important because the original campaign was announced before the mission launched.

How Did the Names Travel to the Moon?

The technical process was straightforward but meaningful.

NASA stored the submitted names on a digital SD card. The card was then loaded aboard the Orion spacecraft.

Orion launched on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. During the mission, the spacecraft traveled around the Moon with the four-person crew.

As a result, the names stored on the card effectively traveled beyond Earth and around the Moon.

This approach allowed NASA to include millions of participants without adding significant physical payload to the spacecraft.

It also created a simple way for people to feel connected to a historic mission.

As space artifacts expert Robert Pearlman explained, programs like this can help people feel closer to a mission rather than simply watching it from Earth.

Why Was the Artemis II Mission Important?

The significance of Artemis II extends far beyond the name-submission program.

Artemis II was a critical test of NASA’s human deep-space exploration capabilities. The crew evaluated Orion and other systems needed for future lunar missions.

The mission also marked the first time humans traveled toward the Moon since the Apollo era.

Furthermore, the flight supported NASA’s broader Artemis campaign, which aims to establish a sustained human presence around and on the Moon and prepare for future deep-space exploration.

Therefore, Artemis II served as an important bridge between previous lunar exploration and future missions.

From Apollo to Artemis: A New Era of Lunar Exploration

The Artemis program builds on the legacy of Apollo, but its long-term goals are different.

Apollo demonstrated that humans could reach and walk on the Moon. Artemis aims to establish a more sustainable approach to lunar exploration.

The program also supports technologies and experience that can contribute to future missions beyond the Moon, including eventual human missions to Mars.

In this context, Artemis II was an important test flight rather than a lunar landing mission.

The crew traveled around the Moon, tested spacecraft systems, and returned safely to Earth.

The Role of Public Participation

Public participation has been an important part of NASA’s outreach strategy.

By allowing people to send their names on missions, NASA can create a personal connection between the public and space exploration.

This can be especially meaningful for students and young people. Seeing their name connected to a real space mission can encourage greater interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Moreover, similar NASA programs have allowed people to send their names on other space missions.

Consequently, the initiative is more than a digital souvenir. It is also a way to encourage curiosity about space science and exploration.

What Happened to Artemis II After Launch?

The Artemis II mission successfully launched on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.

The four astronauts then traveled toward the Moon and completed a lunar flyby.

During the mission, the crew evaluated Orion’s systems and performed tests designed to support future human exploration.

On April 10, Orion returned to Earth. The spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT.

The crew was then recovered safely and returned to Houston for post-mission activities.

As a result, the Artemis II mission completed its primary journey and became a significant milestone in NASA’s modern lunar exploration program.

Conclusion: A Name That Became Part of Lunar History

The “Send Your Name with Artemis II” program gave people around the world a symbolic opportunity to participate in a historic space mission.

Although registration ended on January 21, 2026, the names that were submitted traveled aboard Orion during its journey around the Moon.

Meanwhile, the Artemis II mission itself completed a successful nearly 10-day flight. The four-person crew traveled around the Moon, tested critical systems, and returned safely to Earth on April 10, 2026.

Ultimately, the initiative demonstrated how public participation can become part of major scientific achievements.

Your name may not have traveled there physically, but if you registered in time, it became part of a mission that carried humanity farther into deep space once again.

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A Historic Opportunity: Register for Space Travel and Send Your Name to the Moon with Artemis II