As a child who grew up in NASA's heyday, and now as a reporter itching for any excuse to write about space flight, I got a kick out of an announcement that came across my e-mail today from the space agency: a promise to take everyone with it when NASA returns to the moon.

NASA is preparing its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbitor, or LRO, for launch late this year into a long-term orbit around the moon. And when it launches, it will carry a microchip embedded with the names of anyone who wants to sign up to figuratively go along for the ride.

Sure, the "Send Your Name to the Moon" project is gimmicky, but the underlying project is serious business. The orbiter is expected to identify future moon landing sites, sniff out potential resources, study possible radiation effects and show off new technology, all from an altitude of about 30 miles above the moon's surface.

For a country that dropped the ball on lunar exploration after the last Apollo moon landing more than 35 years ago, the renewal of interest is great news.

If you want your name included on the mission microchip, you need to sign up online by June 27. Who else wants to come along?