Send a Name to Mars for Christmas

space_elf writes "The Planetary Society has an interesting program just in time for Christmas, and just perfect for the persnickity someone in your life who seems to have everything. You can submit a name that will be written on a mini-disk and flown aboard the upcoming Phoenix mission to Mars. Included in the free (as in beer) service is a certificate to present to them as proof of their name going into space. " I know some of you haven't finished your shopping... last chance!

My Data

Radiatyes all the time. It will get to Mars soon enough.

Mini disk?

Surely this is not a reincarnation of a failed Sony "innovation"? Do they send a reader with it? Will it run on solar power?

Questions, questions ...

Proposal

Will it be possible to send people you hate to Mars? Cause I would pay for that.

It would save them trouble on clarifying that they were send.

Uranus

I'll send one to ur anus for half the price :D

just what I always wanted...

...to be on a mailing, phone, and spam list for telemarketers on Mars.

done already?

didn't nasa already try to do this with the polar lander? (and crashed?)

also, isn't this worthless because a mini-disc will probably deteriorate by the time aliens find it?

itsatrap

"Slashdotters! Don't get your name on that mission! The rest of the book, To Serve Man, it's... it's a cookbook!"

Certificate looks wrong :(

The certs created just have "Type Name here" and "Type date here" on my pdf viewer :(

Is this how everyones is or is it just my plugin?

um...

worst gift ever

latest news: martians steal identity

...also include your social security number, mothers maiden name...

You'd have to be pretty dumb to buy that

Why bother with a crummy rust ball when I can have a whole star named after me [starregistry.com]??!!

Done!

Just got it done for my family and a few relatives. You also get a neat certificate.
The way it goes, there will be more cartoon characters and funny names on their way to mars than actual people... Alfred E. Newman and Mickey Mouse... Yuck!

Better idea

Can I use it to send that person into space instead? I'd buy a few of those.

what for?

I don't understand what one achieves by sending his name to Mars. Not that someone is going to read it. Rather, chances are some horny alien might come visiting you in the future.

Some names come to mind?

O.K, so how about sending . . . . Al Cohol Amanda Huginkiss I.P. Freely Ivana Humpalot

I care about you so much...

"I just metaphorically threw you onto Mars as a little disk! Merry Christmas!"

Beilzebub

Or Santa, I cant decide

I get it!!!

So this is the new way to recycle my AOL cd's! We send them to mars!

What are the odds?

Of sending George W Bush on a one way trip to Mars? ;)

Say hello to us when you get there

My wife's name and my own already went up in 2003, as part of this programme [nasa.gov]. I have the pre-take off and post-landing certificates for it. They are of absolutely no practical value whatsoever, but I simply don't care. I love the fact our names are up there, and now we have kids I think I'm going to sign up again and and put our kids' names there too.

It's a harmless, fun programme to generate some interest and I applaud its intent.

Cheers,
Ian

Is this by the same morons who do "name a star?"

Is this by the same morons who do "name a star?" Personally, I prefer just stuffing a wad of crisp dollar bills down the garbage disposal: more bang for the buck.

Uh NO!

I was in the Army. I learned that you NEVER volunteer information (kinda ironic after I volunteered to sign up...)

Anyhoo, I'm not going to give the martians another ingredient on their list for "To Serve Man".

And now for something better

It's going to take a few more years to fly, but Postcards To Space will take your handwritten or emailed Postcard, fly a scan of it on a space sculpture (later a solar sail), display the image with space as a backdrop and email it back to you. Not as near as the Phoenix mission, but definitely more interactive.

I've been a Planetary Society member since the late 80s, and greatly appreciate everything they've done and continue to do.

Josh

Missing half of headline

Mars responds.
 

Humor Seeds

Martian: What's this ?
Other Martian: *crunch* It's not food.

Verizon Rep: Verizon Customer Service, how can I help you today ?
George Vaccaro: ...

Peter: Hey God, I think they finally got the 10 commandments joke, look at theese !

My great great great great grandson: The kids at school were right, my great great great great Grandfather really was an Earthling !

Send your money down the toilet

It's less expensive and has pretty much the same effect.

Intergalactic Spam

Merry Christmas! Your name got sent to Mars with a bunch of viagra ads!

You forgot Ben's Brother

We should send the best names we can to mars. Examples: ... Ben Dover...

As usual, Ben's brother Dick wasn't included. That poor guy never gets a break.