Send your name to pluto!

The first (unmanned) mission to Pluto is planned for Januari 2006. NASA will then launch the New Horizons spacecraft which will arrive at the planet about nine years later.

The primary objectives are to characterize the global geology and morphology of Pluto and Charon, map the surface composition of Pluto and Charon, and characterize the neutral atmosphere of Pluto and its escape rate. Other objectives include studying time variability of Pluto’s surface and atmosphere, imaging and mapping areas of Pluto and Charon at high-resolution, characterizing Pluto’s upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and energetic particle environment, search for an atmosphere around Charon, refine bulk parameters of Pluto and Charon, search for additional satellites and rings, and possibly characterize one Kuiper Belt Object.

New Horizons will be the first Earth ‘thing’ that comes that close to the ice planet. And you can be there too! Well, at least your name: Every name that’s entered here will be burned on a compact disc that will be included in the spacecraft. You even receive a certificate to print out afterwards, so you can show it to your friends . You’ll be the coolest kid in town.