My Name Is Going to the Moon—And Yours Can Too

I’ve officially joined a mission that’s out of this world—literally. Thanks to NASA’s Artemis II program, my name will orbit the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, alongside four astronauts on a 10-day journey that marks a bold step toward humanity’s return to the lunar surface.

This isn’t just a symbolic gesture. It’s a way for people around the globe to be part of space history. NASA is inviting everyone to submit their names to be included on a memory card that will travel aboard Orion. You can add your name, your loved ones, your friends, and yes—even your pets.

Artemis II is more than a flyby. It’s a crucial test of systems and teamwork that will pave the way for future lunar landings and, eventually, crewed missions to Mars. It’s a moment of collective imagination and scientific ambition—and I’m thrilled to be part of it.

If you’d like to join me on this cosmic adventure, it only takes a minute to sign up. You’ll even receive a personalized boarding pass to commemorate your participation.

👉 Click here to add your name and download your pass

Let’s send our names to the Moon—and remind ourselves that exploration belongs to all of us.

Mars Might Be Speaking to Us: Possible Traces of Life in Young Rocks

 Today, the Perseverance rover surprised us with a discovery from Mars: in a region called Bright Angel, it found mineral patterns in rocks that might be traces of ancient microbial life. These “leopard spots” contain vivianite and greigite—two minerals that, on Earth, often appear near decaying organic matter or in environments where microbes thrive.

What’s fascinating is that these minerals seem to have formed through chemical reactions between sediment and organic compounds—a process some microbes use to generate energy. While there are non-biological ways to produce these minerals, the Martian rocks don’t show signs of extreme heat or acidity, making a biological origin more plausible.

This finding challenges the idea that only the oldest rocks could hold signs of life. Younger rocks might have been habitable too, expanding our timeline for when life could have existed on Mars.

As a science communicator, I love sharing discoveries like this with learners of all ages. In class, we describe it as Mars leaving behind chemical breadcrumbs—possibly dropped by ancient microbes. And while we can’t yet confirm life existed, each clue brings us closer to answering the big question: Are we alone?

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