The boarding pass bearing the name of Archana Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 10: Twenty-three-year-old Archana Patnaik is on cloud nine. She may not be able to take a trip to Mars, but she has got the “boarding pass” that will help her send her name to the Red planet.

Nasa has come with this unique idea where it is giving people a chance to shoot their names up into the space on the Orion spacecraft, scheduled for launch on December 4, and then to the Red planet.

Over 2.8 lakh people from around the world, including around 22,000 Indians, have submitted their names to be inscribed on a Nasa microchip that will eventually fly to Mars.

“I have always been fascinated by the world of stars and galaxies and wanted to write my name on them. Now, I have got a chance to shoot my name into the space. I am not going to miss it for anything,” said Patnaik, an engineer, who has got her “boarding pass”.

Patnaik also wanted her friends to do the same as well. “I have posted the picture of my pass on Facebook. I want my friends to know about it, because this is a rare chance,” said Patnaik.

The last day for registration of names is October 31.

All one has to do is visit Nasa’s website, fill out some basic information and submit the details. A digital boarding pass will also be provided.

The Orion is a 4.5-hour mission in the orbit around earth. It will then take a flying leap back through the atmosphere and land in the Pacific Ocean. In future, it will journey deep into the space including Mars.

“I do not know how many years it will take us to reach an alien planet. However, I want to secure my place from now. I am very excited,” said Abhishek Panda, a 25-year-old IT professional, who has also got his pass.

If one misses the inaugural Orion flight test this time, there will be future opportunities as well. The names that have already been registered and of those who will submit after the deadline will fly to future Nasa missions, including the mission to Mars.

But, the young guns are not in the mood to leave it for the future. “I want my name every time the spacecraft goes out of the planet. I want to be a part of all the journeys into space and finally when man puts his foot on Mars,” said 18-year-old college student Ashish Behera.