'CAP Goes to the Moon' Opportunity Offered

Have you ever wanted your name on the moon, visible for generations to come? Now is your chance, thanks to 2nd Lt. Paul Douglas, aerospace education officer for the Virginia Wing’s Burke Composite Squadron,

The wing has created the opportunity to send the names of every current Civil Air Patrol cadet and senior member to the moon.

Douglas coordinated with Cornell University, which will use electron beam lithography to place the names of interested members; a message from Maj. Gen. Mark Smith, CAP's national commander/CEO; a message from Col. Dean Gould, Virginia Wing commander; and possibly other names on a postage stamp-sized chip. That chip will be placed on the Peregrine Lunar Lander being built by Astrobotic of Pittsburgh, which will touch down in the lunar surface's Lacus Mortis region later this year.

“I wanted members to know that even in the face of adversity – yes, even in a pandemic – they could reach out and touch another world. And surely if they can do that, they can do anything!”

The “CAP Goes to the Moon” project can be followed on the Virginia Wing and CAP national Facebook pages and the wing and national Instagram pages for updates. A website will soon be added to the wing’s project page. The wing will receive updates from the very beginning until after the landing.

All members have an opportunity to update their preference to have member information released to CAP-authorized third parties. This information is found on the “General Info & Preferences” screen of your eServices account.

To be included in this project you need to be sure you haven’t opted out of this type of contact. You may update your preference at any time, but in order to be included in ”CAP Goes to the Moon” your record must indicate you’re willing to share your information by the close of business Jan. 28.

Just think – one day soon you’ll be able to look up at the moon and tell your children your name is up there.