So THIS is where they're gonna store all our ID details. Talk about secure! It'd take a good deal more than a determined hacker to get our details once there. Hope they don't get lost in the post...

[PS. and what is the point exactly?]

I'm not sure I entirely see the point, especially as it'll be full of stupid names like Elvis Presley, Gary Glitter etc by now anyway...so they'll probably just bin it and 'say' they took it to the moon!

when they arrive.

And of course I would like to be among the first to welcome our new alien overlords after their tiring journey etc etc...

"Erm, we've come to pick up the junk on the list you sent us, sorry we're a bit late, traffic around the Nebula is a nightmare...what?...well we've got to leave with something, we came with a bottle of wine to sweeten the deal and everything."

Put your email address on a web site and you will get spam from all over the World. Putting your name unprotected on the surface of the Moon is an open invitation to have your identity lifted by whatever passes for scum across the Galaxy!

If I have read the narrow angle camera specs correctly... the image scale will be 0.5m per pixel... We'll finaly see the Apollo landing sites then... perhaps.

The non-radiation proof space suit...

They've got this all wrong.

They need people to add names, addresses, bank details, child allowance details...etc...

and then the thing is absolutely guaranteed to be picked up by some alien and flogged on etBay!

"Everyone who sends their name to the moon ... becomes part of the next wave of lunar explorers"

What courage. Scott would be proud. Yes, I climbed Everest, or rather, my name was embroidered on the actual climbers T-shirt -- but that counts!

Er, presumably to generate publicity about the mission and get a new generation of children interested in space exploration, by firing their imagination.

Sounds like our world leaders latest attempts to gather all our details in one convenient database. I mean who's going to have anything bad to say about nice "Uncle NASA" eh?

So the list of names gets ripped off by some alien spammer - aren't you even a bit curious about the sex toys they would offer? The 'enhancements'?

The wacked vulture cuz he tried'em all.

Fantastic Idea!

however, it would have been better if users could add their second name??

Or even address, DOB etc. still my children will love it

..and successfully return, then how come - dispite massive advances in computer tech, at least some advancement in space shuttle tech and nearly forty extra years worth of studing the moon - it is still gonna take another 12 years to plan the next trip?????

And surely the previous landing was safe? ;-)

This is very bad design by NASA. The PDF certificates are not large enough to hold a complete name - it extends past the right hand edge.

Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel

If we enter our names on the list, how will we ever know if they actually get sent to the moon? It is not as if they are in any way visible, and even if we see footage of a microchip being inserted in the lander module, we have no way of knowing what's on it.

And even if our great grand children in 100 years go to the moon and find the lander module, the information is probably unreadable by then.

So I will continue working on the rocket that will spray-paint my name on the moon in 100 mile-high letters. :-)

Beer is what we really want, especially in these times of changing climates.

It isn't asking for anyones email address. In fact I could get more information about you by copying your automobile license plate information, or following you around for 2 hours.

This is a nice PR campaign for NASA, along with something kids (especially those interested in science) to get involved with. Stop taking things so literally; and get rid of your narcissistic personality disorder. It isn't about YOU.

where the lander will actually land, I mean the wife & I own some land on the moon, I hope they will be asking permission at least. I would settle for a small sum in return for the use of my land. What a wise "investment" that turned out to be, Ha Ha to all those naysayers!

I bet it's going to be encrypted or compressed to fit on a bit of ROM.

Plus I hope its going to be radiation shielded or within a couple of months it'll be wiped clean. ;-)

....and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.

Well, someone had to say it (mutter, mutter), ingrates.......

Don't worry. I just signed up little Bobby Tables. By the time it gets to the moon, the chip will be blank!

Dear frend

My name is Manin Themoon and I am writing to you by the Power of the Universal POWER Lord See Leet Bang, to ask for your Assistance in a Matter that you will treat with the upmost secresy. IN my roll as LUNar Overlord I was entrusted With the care of 900 billion tons of LUNar green cheese but now due to the Erthmans invasion led by the Evil Waaall Ace and Gror Meet, I must URGENTLY get my Worlds Treasures to safety. I was given YOUR name as a sentient and compassionate being Who will be Able to quikly assist mee to Protect my Worlds Heritage. By the grace of THE ALL Powerful HAR PEEK and your promt Acton we can see This blessd mission to completion and we Will bothe benefit from the Bountiful Harvester. Please send me your banking account Details and copies of your identifications so that I may Deposit the funds to Arrange the tranzportation. Thank You my friend and Bless you and by the Will and Graces we will see the GLORIUS day when my cheese is Safe from the Erth invaders and their ally Meester SPune.

You’re frend in Waiting

Manin Themoon

Really. I mean, totally brilliant. Hauling stuff to the moon costs x per pound, right?

And you can pack an awful lot of names into an itty bitty rom chip thats probably already part of some other kit going there anyway.

Which, as previously pointed out, may or may not even be as real an event as your payment for same. I'd prefer someone carve the names on a moon rock or something, thereby creating a bit of home-like graffiti at least.

Upwards and onwards, brave pioneers of the unknown! Dont forget your towels...

Then: For only $52 we will send you a piece of paper that names a star after you.

Now: For only $100 (inflation, you know) we will send your name to the moon.

NASA could make zillions.

This is such a small thing in a huge wave of stimuli and media reaching kids that most of them will get bored before they've even filled out the web form.

Once the moon had been reached and walked on (Apollo 11), interest in NASA dropped off remarkably. Apollo 13 only became newsworthy when things got dramatic.

All your data are belong to us!

etc...

whether Microsoft is involved in the scam? Its hard not to pin Bill on this one.

1) What scam? You enter a name, you get a printable certificate, er, that's it. (Possibly said name even goes to the moon as described - does it matter? Who's going to check and how?).

2) M$ don't do freebies, only loss-leaders.

Feel free to diss M$. Just try to make the effort to find a valid reason first, it's not like there aren't a few out there fer chrissake!

(Jobs with horns to even the balance and 'cos he's equally as irrelevant in context.)

I can't see what the big deal is with everybody.

You put in a name, not an email address, bank details or anything else... and if you have a common name, the problem appears to be the futility of it rather than any security risk.

>"..and successfully return, then how come - dispite massive advances in computer tech, at least some advancement in space shuttle tech and nearly forty extra years worth of studing the moon - it is still gonna take another 12 years to plan the next trip?????"

Um, because that's how long it takes. All the Saturn Vs are used, scrapped, or retired, we don't have any serviceable Apollo modules left, so what do you want? A whole lot of stuff has to be built from scratch, that means meetings, reports, committees, designing, planning, building prototypes, testing, debugging, building more prototypes, testing, debugging them, building the actual kit, testing it, assembling it, giving it a final once over and only then finally launching it.

Come on then, you're clearly claiming that it's some kind of conspiracy, so you ought to know: how long /should/ it take? And why? Let's see *your* detailed project plan. Because if you can't show that it can be done much faster, bang goes even your slightest hint of circumstantial evidence for the suggestion that you were too cowardly to come right out with (because even you know it's stupid and you don't want to look stupid): you're saying the original moon landings must have been a hoax or we would be able to do it quicker than twelve years. That might seem obvious to you, but the rest of us would like to know how you think you can say that - why not thirteen years, or eleven years?

Oh, and what you mentioned about the shuttle? That's irrelevant rubbish. The shuttle's a low-earth orbiter, it's got bugger-all use in a moon-flight capacity, so why even bring it up except to distract from the emptiness of your argument? Nothing we've learned from building shuttles would get us to the moon any faster.

Oh, and what you mentioned about forty years more studying the moon? That's irrelevant rubbish too. How the hell can you claim that looking at it through telescopes should teach us how to build rockets and organise large-scale human manpower projects any better? That's ridiculous!