NASA invited the public to send their names on a dime-sized microchip that will go into space.
This name-bearing microchip will go on a test flight on an Orion spacecraft launching Dec. 4, which will circle Earth a few times before landing somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.
If you feel like one trip doesn’t do your name any justice, fear not, for these names will also fly on future NASA flights, including those ?heading to Mars.
To sign up, all you need is to fill out your name on the NASA website, and you’re good to go.
The agency website also plans on having some “space miles” system where members will acquire more miles with the number of missions they go on.
The Indiana Daily Student Editorial Board was a bit puzzled at the practical purposes of this new “name in space” deal, but here’s a list of some other possibilities:
Great for those who want to feel closer to the universe — you know, just in case they get those days where they feel detached from reality. There’s always space. Now we can distinguish between having our own “inner space” and “outer space,” or just “spacing out.”
Inner/outer space distinction opens up new room for research and perhaps even a new major to be added to college curricula. They’ll call it “spaces” — wouldn’t that be cool?
Opens up a whole new platform for advertisements. Perhaps our love for capitalism and free market will also lead to the discovery of aliens.
Real “universal” approval for fast food, cellphone ?services and the like.
Secures the victory of another Cold War-like ideological battle, in space — You can’t have communism there.
Presents a solution to our environmental problems — just dump everything ?outside.
Air/space miles competition between NASA and ?airlines.
New platform for meaningful sentiment — you know, when all meaning is lost on Earth.
New era of Hollywood romance, where lovers will spend a fortune to engrave their names on a microchip. But what if someone’s name is a letter too long? Cue gasps of horror.
More prudence in the naming process.
In all seriousness, the editorial board finds this whole name-in-space ordeal a bit extravagant.
Has our world come to this? Namely, this desperate need for some greater meaning in life that’s reliant on this highly contrived notion.
Instead of looking beyond Earth, maybe we should focus on ways to improve our life on Earth. Although technological improvements have given us great benefits, it seems that people are at a loss with just what to do with them.
Perhaps we should focus on the things that are more relevant to us and to our lives to carve out our own lasting sentiments than to look for some object to do it for us.
But on the other hand, if you’re a space fanatic waiting to fulfill your childhood dreams, we just want to say, “Go on and fetch that dream.”
