Japanese space agency will deliver your message to Venus

Ever wanted to send a message to space? Japanese space agency JAXA is inviting people on their web site to write messages that will be printed on aluminum plates along with names aboard the Venus Climate Orber Akatsuki and sent to Venus’ orbit. But hurry! Messages from individuals and groups will be accepted until December 25. Some rules apply:

- Your name can include a maximum of 20 letters in Roman alphabet (or 10 in Japanese).
- Message include a maximum of 40 characters in Roman alphabet including letters and numbers (or 20 in Japanese).
- You can send only your name without a message.
- JAXA will retain copyright to the message.

Send your message on this page.

Orbiter Akatsuki (Planet-C) will be launched next year and will reach Venus’ orbit about half a year later. The main goal of the 2-year mission is exploration of Venus’ atmosphere.

Venus is a planet that rotates with extremely slow speed in the opposite direction as the Earth. However, its atmosphere rotates at the speed that’s 60 times higher. Akatsuki is supposed to help unveil the mystery of this meteorological phenomena.

Because Venus is similar to the Earth in many aspects, the mission aims to help scientists deepen their understanding of the Earth’s climate and environment by comparing both planets.

I’m sure you don’t have time to build an orbiter like this, so instead why not make a small paper model of Akatsuki?