- NASA runs a “name on Mars” program where people can submit a name to be inscribed on the Mars rovers.
- The first name on Mars program was in 2018 with the InSight rover. InSight recently went dark, so a lot people are being reminded that their name is on another planet!
- Some people are saddened with nostalgia remembering the past, while others are excited by the whole journey, so the TikTok videos vary quite a bit.
- You can sign up to get your name on the next Mars rover at NASA’s registration site.
What is “names on Mars” referring to?
The “names on Mars” trend refers to a NASA program that started in 2018. NASA sent the InSight spacecraft to Mars. To build hype for the project anyone could go online and submit their names to be stenciled on top of the computer chips in InSight’s system. InSight went to Mars carrying over 2 million names with it! The names were inscribed on the chips using an electron beam. Sure, they were microscopic, but it’s still pretty cool, right? NASA also did this with the Perseverance rover in 2020. The program became so popular after Insight that Perseverance carried over 11 million names!
Why is the “names on Mars” trend back now?
A lot of people remember sending their names to Mars in school. The TikTok generation remembers this program fondly—for many, it was one of the last big school projects before COVID lockdowns. Many science teachers had students sign up to get them interested in space exploration, so the whole “names on Mars” program is fresh in a lot of peoples’ minds. A lot of young people who were in a relationship at the time sent both of their name and their partner’s name together on the same submission.
The InSight rover recently went dark so the “names are coming back.” Solar dust has been slowly accumulating on the InSight’s solar panels for years now, and the little robot has finally lost its power. InSight sent all of its data back to Earth, so a lot of the people who signed up for the “names on Mars” program feel like their names are returning to Earth now. The names aren’t literally coming back to Earth, just to be clear. They’re physically inscribed on the rover, which is being left on Mars. This kind of adds to the mystery and ethereal nature of the whole thing.
Why are the “names coming back” videos so unique?
A lot of couples broke up, so the “names on Mars” news is bittersweet. Many young people submitted their name alongside the name of the boyfriend or girlfriend they were dating at the time. If that relationship didn’t work out, the “names on Mars” trend is a melancholic reminder of what used to be. As a result, some of these videos are sad and a little “off.” That's why some of the “names on Mars” videos feature downbeat music and a reference to an ex.
Many people have changed significantly since 2018, so it’s trippy to remember. If you were a junior in high school in 2018, you’re either close to graduating college now or firmly planted in your career of choice. In other words, the world looks a lot different if you submitted your name to the Mars program in high school! It’s strange to remember all of that for a lot of people. One popular “names on Mars” video just depicts fireworks and whacky, dreamy hip-hop music. That’s the kind of bizarre energy on display.
It’s easy to have nostalgia for the pre-COVID past if you’re young. If you were in high school, COVID may have been especially tough.You might have missed proms, graduation ceremonies, college orientations, and more. Because the names on Mars program may have been one of the last big school projects people completed, a lot of the videos celebrate the good times.
It’s just kind of wild that names were sent to Mars in the first place. Just take a step back and think about how cool it is that a laser can write your name on a computer chip and then a rocket shoots it through space. Then, a little robot (that can talk!) walks out on another planet and carries your name with it. Who wouldn’t want to make a TikTok video about that?! This is why there are so many upbeat and informative videos about NASA alongside all of the weird abstract vids.
Can you still send your names to Mars?
Yes, you can submit names for the 2026 launch! NASA is taking reservations for its next mission, and over 22 million people are on board this time. Go to NASA’s registration site and enter your name (or names), location, ZIP code, and email. NASA will send you a “boarding pass” and keep you updated on the mission. You can even rack up Frequent Flyer points for future missions. Give it a few years and maybe you’ll be on a leaderboard.
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