NASA calls for public participation in Artemis II moon mission

On September 9, 2025, NASA made an invitation to the public for participation in its Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch next year. This mission aims to send four astronauts around the Moon, marking a significant step in human space exploration. To engage the public, NASA has introduced an initiative titled 'Send Your Name with Artemis II,' allowing individuals to submit their names to be included on an SD card that will accompany the crew on their journey. The deadline for participants to claim their spots is set for January 21, 2026. This mission is particularly significant as it will feature America's first female astronaut and the first person of color to travel to the lunar surface, as part of a broader effort to advance human exploration deeper into space. The Artemis II flight will last ten days and is designed to test critical hardware and systems for future missions that will ultimately aim for crewed landings on the Moon and eventually Mars. NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, along with Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are slated to crew the mission. Lori Glaze, NASA's acting associate director for exploration systems development, emphasized the mission's role in inspiring global interest in space exploration. The 'Send Your Name' initiative allows people to follow along with the mission and provides a collectible personalized boarding pass upon the return to Earth, further encouraging public engagement with space missions and emphasizing the importance of community involvement in this new era of exploration.