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Send a Name to Mars for Christmas

Posted by CmdrTaco on Sun Dec 24, 2006 09:07 AM
from the last-minute-shopping dept.
Christmas Cheer Mars Space
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!
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  • Radiatyes all the time. It will get to Mars soon enough.
  • 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 ...
    • Martians: "All right, let's check out this disk. Our technology can read almost any medium in the uni... oh shit, it's a Sony".

  • 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.

  • I'll send one to ur anus for half the price :D
  • ...to be on a mailing, phone, and spam list for telemarketers on Mars.
    • Just send a fake name, like John C. Dvorak, and you'll get no Martian spam!

    • CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSAL (Score:5, Funny)

      by cno3 (197688) on Sunday December 24 2006, @09:39AM (#17353418) Homepage
      My name is Mr.Marvin Martian. I work in the credit and accounts department of Union Bank of Credit Spasse, Mars. I write you in respect of a interplanetary customer with a Domicilliary account. His name is Klaatu. He was among those who died, crushed under the wheels of a martian rover that landed on our surface.

      Since the demise of this our customer, Klaatu, who was an emissary, I have kept a close watch of the deposit records and accounts and since then nobody has come to claim the money in this a/c as next of kin. He had only $18.5mllion in his a/c and the a/c is coded. It is only an insider that could produce the code or password of the deposit particulars. As it stands now,there is nobody in that position to produce the needed information other than my very self considering my position in the bank.

      Based on the reason that nobody has come forward to claim the deposit as next of kin, I hereby ask for your co operation in using your name as the next of kin (which I obtained via minidisc) to the deceased to send these funds out to a foreign offplanet bank a/c for mutual sharing between myself and you. At this point I am the only one with the information because I have removed the deposit file from the safe.By so doing, what is required is to send an aplication laying claims of the deposit on your name as next of kin to the late emissary. I will need your full name and address telephone/fax number,company or residential, also your bank name and account,where the money will be transfer into. You can email this information,or cordially send it recorded in minidsc format on the next rocket you send to mars.

      Trusting to hear from you,

      I remain Respectfully yours,

      Mr Marvin Martian.

      • I LOVE YOU (Score:4, Funny)

        by Dunbal (464142) on Sunday December 24 2006, @10:36AM (#17353668)
        hi my name is emily mars I saw your
        profile online the other night and think you're hot
        if you want to chat then IM me my email is
        xtxtrrrdestroyearthlings@hotmail.com
      • Make m0n3_y in penny $t0x! Get CYDM First Thing After Christmas. This Is Going To Explode!! Cydonia Mining (CYDM) is set to announce a new find of Illudium suitable for Q36 Explosive Space Modulators. Analysts indicate there is "almost limitless demand". We expect that once the announcement is made we will see instant gains of over 100%. This is your unique chance to triple investment in one week! CYDM is rated an immediate and "STRONG BUY". Get in early and ride it to the top!

    • Re:just what I always wanted... (Score:5, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 24 2006, @10:01AM (#17353500)
      ENLARGE YOUR TENTACLE

  • done already? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by dheera (1003686) on Sunday December 24 2006, @09:17AM (#17353306) Homepage
    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?

      • My name too. I've actually still got the certificate [demon.co.uk], dated 14 February 1998.

        One day we hope to send space explorers to Mars and beyond. You could be that future explorer, but only if you stay in school and study hard, especially in the areas of math, science, and computer technology.

        I did do what they suggested - but given the fate of the Mars Polar Lander, I'd want to think carefully before signing up for a future mission.

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

    • 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?
      Once you enter your name, don't click on the misleading "Get Certificate" graphic, but rather click on your hyperlinked name which is below that. It's the same deal, only you don't have to type in the information manually.
       
      • I just did that, and another amazing thing happened:

        It asked to save or open (saving does nothing - its a php link with the pdf parameters in.
        Opening it opens it in acrobat as expected, then the cert itself opens in Internet Explorer

        I haven't had a program explicitly open in IE since I removed it from all defaults and access (firefox usually).

  • um... (Score:1, Flamebait)

    by IRhino (920664)
    worst gift ever
  • ...also include your social security number, mothers maiden name...
  • Why bother with a crummy rust ball when I can have a whole star named after me [starregistry.com]??!!
  • 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!
  • Can I use it to send that person into space instead? I'd buy a few of those.
  • 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.
    • Its the thought of knowing that its the only way you will ever have any part of mars. Lets face it, none of us will be going to mars anytime soon, unless you work for NASA you _might_ have a shot.

      Chances are, I will never go to space. Thats why I want my ashes to be sent up there when I die. One way or another, I am gonna get there.

      Sure, when you think about it its a very silly thing to do. Its all for personal satifaction.
  • O.K, so how about sending . . . . Al Cohol Amanda Huginkiss I.P. Freely Ivana Humpalot
  • "I just metaphorically threw you onto Mars as a little disk! Merry Christmas!"
  • Or Santa, I cant decide
  • So this is the new way to recycle my AOL cd's! We send them to mars!
  • Of sending George W Bush on a one way trip to Mars? ;)

  • Say hello to us when you get there (Score:5, Interesting)

    by mccalli (323026) on Sunday December 24 2006, @11:11AM (#17353826) Homepage
    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?" Personally, I prefer just stuffing a wad of crisp dollar bills down the garbage disposal: more bang for the buck.

  • 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".

    • 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".
      --

      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
      chas@evilnet.net


      Well, thanks for the tip chas@evilnet.net. I'll be sure to keep that in mind.
  • 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
  • It's less expensive and has pretty much the same effect.
    • It will have exactly the same effect once we start sending our trash and sewage to other planets.
  • Last time I did this, the probe crashed. It was that Mars Polar Lander.
    So taking that as a sign, I think I won't do this again. ;-)

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