As the countdown to Richard 'Tabula Rasa/Ultima' Garriott's impending space flight continues, NCsoft has today unveiled 'Operation Immortality', a venture open to all players of the Tabula Rasa MMO.

Giving gamers the chance to pass on a virtual message to the heavens (well, the International Space Station), Operation Immortality is open to all Tabula Rasa players with active accounts on September 2nd. Their characters will added to the 'Immortality Drive' time capsule, which Garriott will take up into orbit in the Autumn.

"I've been able to do some very exciting things in the games business, but nothing of this magnitude," said Garriott, executive producer for Tabula Rasa at NCsoft. "I'm thrilled we can offer the once in a lifetime chance to millions of gamers to virtually go to space with me. A select few U.S. players will have their DNA digitised and sent. And, theoretically, if anything happens to the human race, it could be their DNA that is used to resurrect humanity."

"This is your chance to leave your mark," says Garriott. "While everyone can participate in the polls at http://www.operationimmortality.com, Tabula Rasa players will be the only gamers in the universe who can say that a piece of them is in space, since we're sending their in-game alter-egos, and for some, their DNA, to space with me."

NCsoft has teamed up with TVG to giveaway 2,000 7-day trial keys for Tabula Rasa, which can be used to participate in the 'operation'. Registered TVG readers can download their free trial here.