NASA Invites Public Names for Dragonfly Titan Mission
The agency is collecting names to store on a microchip aboard the rotorcraft scheduled to reach Titan in 2034.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Space
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NASA has opened a public submission portal allowing anyone to send their name to Titan aboard the upcoming Dragonfly rotorcraft. The names will be etched onto a microchip attached to the spacecraft, which is currently being assembled at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
Why it matters
This initiative engages the public in the New Frontiers Program as NASA prepares to conduct the first science mission to fly a rotorcraft on another world. The mission aims to evaluate Titan's habitability by sampling diverse environments across the moon.
Dragonfly serves as the 4th mission in NASA's New Frontiers Program. The spacecraft is currently in the assembly phase at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.
The players
NASA
The United States government agency responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space exploration.
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
A research center focused on national security and space science that currently oversees the assembly of the Dragonfly rotorcraft.
The details
The mission utilizes a rotorcraft to explore the surface of Titan, a moon of Saturn. By landing at multiple locations, the vehicle will conduct chemical analysis to identify potential signs of prebiotic habitability. The physical list of public names will be stored on a microchip integrated directly into the craft's internal structure.
Timeline
Public submissions close on January 15, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
The Dragonfly mission is scheduled to launch in 2028.
The spacecraft is expected to arrive at Titan in 2034.
The Tech Race
Dragonfly marks the 4th mission under NASA's New Frontiers Program, continuing a legacy of targeted planetary science efforts. It follows the program's strategy of deploying specialized craft to explore specific high-interest environments within the solar system.
The public can submit their names through a designated NASA portal to receive a personalized digital boarding pass. Participation is open until the January 2027 deadline, after which the names will be finalized for the 2034 arrival on Titan.
The takeaway
This mission marks a significant advancement in autonomous planetary flight by attempting to sample surface environments across Titan. Interested participants should monitor NASA's public portal to ensure name submission before the January 15, 2027, cut-off date.
What happens next
The deadline for public submissions is January 15, 2027, followed by the scheduled mission launch in 2028.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Space exploration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NASA.
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