You can't get to Mars, but your name can

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- As it stands now, only a select few people will get to visit Mars in the coming decades. But while you're stuck here on Earth, your name can be touring the Red Planet and other popular solar system destinations. That's right, NASA is promising to take your name to everywhere its Orion spacecraft goes.

More than 1.3 million people have sent their names to NASA. The monikers will be stored on a microchip and installed in the spacecraft, which will take its first test flight in December. Participants will have to wait a while before they can brag to their friends about their Martian-bound name.

Orion will be sticking closer to home on its first couple of test runs. Its Dec. 4 launch will see the craft travel 3,600 miles from home, circle the Earth twice, then return at speeds of 20,000 mph. The unmanned trip will only last 4.5 hours.

But Orion is built for deep space travel and is expected to eventually carry astronauts to Mars and beyond. The craft will continue to carry the name-filled microchip on future trips, accruing frequent flyer miles for Earth's out-of-body travelers.

"NASA is pushing the boundaries of exploration and working hard to send people to Mars in the future," Mark Geyer, Orion Program manager, said in a statement. "When we set foot on the Red Planet, we'll be exploring for all of humanity. Flying these names will enable people to be part of our journey."

If you want to go to space (even if in name only), there's still time. The sign-up period is open through midnight Eastern Time on Oct. 31. Register on NASA's website.