Today is the last day to sign up to have your name sent to Mars. (Deadline is midnight EDT.)
Your name will be part of a dime-sized microchip on the Orion spacecraft, according to NASA.
As of Friday morning, 1.3 million names have been submitted their names to NASA and received a 'boarding pass.'
On Dec. 4, the spacecraft will take its first test flight 3,600 miles from Earth.
The spacecraft will travel a 4.5-hour, two-orbit trip 'before returning to Earth at speeds near 20,000 mph and generating temperatures up to 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit,' according to NASA.
No astronauts will be aboard this first flight to test its critical systems.
Orion is built to send crews deeper into space than ever before, including to Mars, NASA says.
'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,' said Mark Geyer, Orion Program manager, in a statement.
Screenshot from NASA.gov.(Photo: NASA)
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Entities 0 Name: NASA Count: 6 1 Name: Earth Count: 2 2 Name: Orion Count: 2 3 Name: Orion Program Count: 1 4 Name: Mark Geyer Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1vnIPoL Title: NASA finishes building its Mars-bound Orion spacecraft Description: Humanity is one step closer to reaching Mars. NASA finished up its Orion Spacecraft Thursday, and its preparing for a test flight on Dec. 4. When Orion launches in December, aboard a Delta IV Heavy rocket, it will complete a 4.5-hour, two-orbit test flight. The flight will really put Orion to the test.
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