Send a personal message to Mars, help fund future space projects at the same time

While we may not be able to physically travel to the planet Mars, we will get our chance to send our messages to our neighbouring world later this year.

A quirky, new fundraising campaign launched this week by Colorado-based startup Uwingu called "Beam Me to Mars" promises to let anyone in the world get a chance to say their piece and beam it to the fourth planet from the Sun. The project will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the launch of NASA’s first successful mission to the Red Planet – Mariner 4.

Using a set of high-powered transmitters in Hawaii, Alaska, and Australia, the messages will travel at light speed across the millions of kilometers of interplanetary space and arrive on Mars within less than 15 minutes.

That will be quite different from the first human missions to the neighbouring world that are currently planned for in the mid 2030s. Using current propulsion technologies, it is expected that the fastest a spaceship could get to Mars would be 6 to 8 months.

The transmission date is set for November 28 and each message will cost between $5 and $100 depending on length of the note and if photos are included. While half of the proceeds will cover transmission costs, the rest will directly help fund scientists, teachers and students through Uwingu’s own research and education grant program.

Governmental funding for science, including the fields of astronomy and space exploration has been more challenging in this era of economic downturn. Ongoing budget cuts at NASA has meant agonizing decisions are being made that threaten space missions and telescopes. For example, the space agency might have to make some hard choices as to which ongoing missions they can afford to keep running. Some experts fear worse-case scenarios where they might have to choose pulling the plug between two flagship missions like Mars Curiosity rover or the Cassini probe orbiting Saturn.

Uwingu hopes to step in, at least with somewhat more modest projects for now, and offer a helping hand to those in the science and education community that needs support. For instance, the organization just finished funding 11 doctoral students to give research talks on their projects.

“NASA funding is often in jeopardy. Seems like every year, in fact.” explained Alan Stern, head of Uwingu and former associate administrator for science missions at NASA.

“We’re providing a backstop where we can.”

Stern believe this may be a model – one that includes public participation – for at least some science funding in the future.

“We need more space research and education funding diversity, and more public engagement projects, too,” Stern said.

Organizers plan on compiling Beam Me to Mars messages into an online, searchable database. This collection of Mars shout-outs will also be delivered to the U.S. Congress and the United Nations in the hope that it show those that make space policy decisions that the public at large is keenly interested in supporting space exploration.

“Beam Me To Mars is a chance to be a part of something historic – never before have people been able to transmit their own messages and pictures to Mars and to make an impact at the same time back on Earth with Congress, the UN, and NASA.” said Stern.

Who will be listening on the other side? Currently there are only two robotic rovers there to hear the call – but no one knows for sure.

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