Posted by
michael
on from the diving-in-to-capitalism dept.
0biJon writes "The BBC says 'For as little as $20,000, you could soon have a letter sent to a new "post office" aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and back care of the Russian space agency.' Maybe Lance Bass can mail himself up?"
Is this a joke or just some stupid ploy to get money for the Russian space program. I mean, 20k...that's an expensive letter.
What would the point be except for rich people to claim that they spent 20k on a stamp basically. I know of some crappy fundraisers, but this one sucks.
I'd rather them just ask for donations really. It'd be more honerable I think.
--
-gabe
Re:uhhhhh
by
Prof.Phreak
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
I don't get it. You can send your ashes to space for $5,300, but a letter is nearly 4 times more expensive?
--
"If anything can go wrong, it will." - Murphy
Re:uhhhhh
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
The ashes are on a one way trip. The letter ain't.
Re:working up to pigs later
by
Jason1729
·
· Score: 2, Funny
If a letter costs $20k, a catalog will be a lot more. It might be cheaper to pay the $20 Million to have it hand delivered. Maybe by one of the models:).
One question is whether the $20,000 for the stamp is merely an additional cost, or if it includes the cost of transporting a kilogram or so of cargo.
It looks like a good method for space-based experiments, at least until a cost-effective private alternative is created.
--
Unity in Diversity
Re: load size?
by
Black+Parrot
·
· Score: 2, Funny
> One question is whether the $20,000 for the stamp is merely an additional cost, or if it includes the cost of transporting a kilogram or so of cargo.
Sounds like someone's thinking about becoming the system's first astrodealer. You reckon they smoke a lot of pot on the ISS?
those numbers were there for so that you could try to calculate the PROFIT they get from the letter, and if it was worth it for the russians to sell such service. it costs THEM $10-20,000 per kilo, $60,000 to return that kilo, and $18-19,000 per hours work of astro/cosmonauts.
-- world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
In Soviet Russia...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 5, Funny
oh wait...
Re: In Soviet Russia...
by
Kinniken
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
Actualy, that sounds pretty much like "In Capitalist Russia" to me...
"The check's in the mail. It's probably still on the launch pad. I mailed it in plenty of time, though."
I shudder to think of the kind of bills you'd need to have a $20-$30K stamp be a cost effective stalling method. I doubt they'd launch your letter before their check clears, at least.
-- I spent a year in Iraq looking for WMD and all I found was this lousy sig.
Do you think you could use one of those business reply envelopes (postage to be paid by addressee) to send your junk mail offers back via the ISS and thereby really stick it to that bank that keeps offering you the 0.01% VISA card?
--
IAAL
rubber stamped space mail
by
GregorianChant
·
· Score: 3, Funny
Imagine the dismay on the senders face when their galactic letter comes back with "Return To Sender" on the envelope:) For 20,000 bucka you better make damn sure that the letter is addressed correctly!!
I wonder if it would be cheaper for NASA to outsource some of their experiments to the Russian agency?
Really, I can think of a lot of cool experiments for the serious scientist. Things like insect eggs in space, effect of zero-G on seeds, that kind of thing
--
I'm not Seth.
I'd like to recieve the mail...
by
aerojad
·
· Score: 5, Funny
If I lived somewhere where it cost 20,000 to mail me, I don't think any advertiser would bug me again... ever.
I reckon my postie will be rightly pissed if he has to ride his bike all the way from the space station Post Office to my appartment. But he does need the exercise so if anyone wants to send mail to me this way.. feel free.
-- Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth What truth? There is no dupe
# Delivery of one kilo of cargo to the ISS: $10-20,000
# Return of one kilo from the ISS to Earth: $60,000
# Cost of one hour's work by the team aboard the ISS: $18-19,000
"Cost of one hour's work by the team aboard the ISS: $18-19,000"???? does this mean i have to pay for the post and the time to read it?? or does it mean i can pay an extra 20g's to have them do what ever i want? id donate to a fund to have lance take an hour space walk w/ no space suit!
But, if you want to save $2K and achieve the same result...
1. Put Lance in an envelope with the sender's address as "Space Station, Earh Orbit" 2. Mail him to your own address 3. Refuse to accept him and send him back to the post office 4. The PO will send the mail back to the original sender, i.e. the Space Station
-- The web is a dominatrix. Everywhere I turn, I see little buttons ordering me to Submit.
Re:Cost, $20K is only one way.
by
HappyClown
·
· Score: 2, Funny
$60K for it to come back down?!! What are they trying to do, get it delivered in one piece or something?! Like that ever happens with regular post.
To get it back down I can't see why they wouldn't just throw it out the window. Sure, it may do a few thousand laps of the earth first (just like regular post), and it my burn up on reentry (your own fault for inadequate packaging), but think of the amount of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf merchandise you could buy with the savings.
NASA's new business model
by
duplo
·
· Score: 5, Funny
1) Take Printer to ISS 2) Tell people to send letters for 20K 3) Scan letters 4) email letters 5) Print letters on ISS 6) PROFIT
It shouldn't be too hard to mail Lance
by
tuxlove
·
· Score: 5, Funny
Given a midsize cardboard box, a large garbage bag and a hacksaw, I think I can package him appropriately.
Coolness factors....
by
grantb
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
This has got an expensive "just because i can" and useless coolness factor to it like, renting a suite in a nice hotel, getting a buggy when playing golf or using a Palm handheld
A bit too much?
by
Prof.Phreak
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
Anyone who can afford this can probably afford to launch their own satellite...
--
"If anything can go wrong, it will." - Murphy
A request...
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 2, Funny
Maybe Lance Bass can mail himself up?
Sounds like a great idea. I have one request though...
For the return trip, he takes the shuttle.
Bad taste, I know, sorry.;)
It's all a matter of mass
by
2sleep2type
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
You don't get to send much
"Celestis will place cremated remains into personalized flight capsules that can hold approximately one-quarter ounce (7 grams) of ashes"
It's a symbolic act.
I'm guessing that your letters will weigh a bit more
A touch of space
by
2sleep2type
·
· Score: 3, Funny
I can imagine that this is going to be very popular.
Not just the wedding rings.
But you could send your favorite SIFI junk then send it up and back again and sell it on as truly out of this world.
Same kind of thing for new age healing power of space type junk
Very special edition Franklin Mint includes 0.001% of real space exposed material
That's just a few moments of thinking
Re:Cost, $20K is only one way.
by
gl4ss
·
· Score: 3, Informative
ehh. the bbc article seems a bit confusing about this.
the per kilogram costs are cited from some russian sources as what it costs THEM to move that mail first up, then down, and to process it. one kilo fits quite many of those 20k$-30k$ letters.
-- world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Why would anyone want that?
by
DaneelGiskard
·
· Score: 2, Informative
Why would anyone want that, when you can actually talk to the peeps up there, which is free if you have the necessary license/equipment (which is easy to get and cheap)...
Earth orbit? So what?
by
OpenYourEyes
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
I've been trying for years to send mail to the post office that Apollo 15 left on
the moon. Although this was a notable achievement for the newly reorganized USPS, it doesn't seem to have a ZIP code...
Slashdot Mirror
Is this a joke or just some stupid ploy to get money for the Russian space program. I mean, 20k...that's an expensive letter.
What would the point be except for rich people to claim that they spent 20k on a stamp basically. I know of some crappy fundraisers, but this one sucks.
I'd rather them just ask for donations really. It'd be more honerable I think.
-gabe
for 20g's can i request that lance recieve permanent residence?
Ah, the future is coming closer and closer, although I think someone misunderstood. Just as long as the sender pays the postage, it'll be OK.
Spammmm innnnn Spaaaaaaaace!
I think someone should be kind and mail them a Victoria's Secret catalog, or similar amusement. I know I would appreciate it, were I in orbit.
Somehow, I think this post is reason enough not to read slashdot at 4:30am...
fair.org counterpunch.com truthout.com indymedia.org salon.com
eff.org guerrilla.net debian.org gentoo.org
And like most first posts, yours is a total waste of a message.
My question is who, other than topical philatelists, would be interested in sending snail mail to orbit for $20K.
I do know of some philatelists who are crazy enough to do that, but then, philatelists are crazy, anyway.
Wind under They Wings
Amber
Suppose you did.
Suppose you did not.
One question is whether the $20,000 for the stamp is merely an additional cost, or if it includes the cost of transporting a kilogram or so of cargo.
It looks like a good method for space-based experiments, at least until a cost-effective private alternative is created.
Unity in Diversity
oh wait...
I shudder to think of the kind of bills you'd need to have a $20-$30K stamp be a cost effective stalling method. I doubt they'd launch your letter before their check clears, at least.
I spent a year in Iraq looking for WMD and all I found was this lousy sig.
Do you think you could use one of those business reply envelopes (postage to be paid by addressee) to send your junk mail offers back via the ISS and thereby really stick it to that bank that keeps offering you the 0.01% VISA card?
IAAL
Imagine the dismay on the senders face when their galactic letter comes back with "Return To Sender" on the envelope :) For 20,000 bucka you better make damn sure that the letter is addressed correctly!!
OK excuse me for being dumb but whats they point? You can send stuff into space and get it back. Great an expensive SAE :)
Rus
Cheap UK and US VPS
I wonder if it would be cheaper for NASA to outsource some of their experiments to the Russian agency?
Really, I can think of a lot of cool experiments for the serious scientist. Things like insect eggs in space, effect of zero-G on seeds, that kind of thing
I'm not Seth.
If I lived somewhere where it cost 20,000 to mail me, I don't think any advertiser would bug me again... ever.
SecondPageMedia - Wha
I reckon my postie will be rightly pissed if he has to ride his bike all the way from the space station Post Office to my appartment. But he does need the exercise so if anyone wants to send mail to me this way .. feel free.
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
...until someone sends an envelope full of Anthrax up there.
Would they ever be able to decontaminate the place, or would they have to scrap the entire station?
Tarsnap: Online backups for the truly paranoid
the article says:
# Delivery of one kilo of cargo to the ISS: $10-20,000
# Return of one kilo from the ISS to Earth: $60,000
# Cost of one hour's work by the team aboard the ISS: $18-19,000
"Cost of one hour's work by the team aboard the ISS: $18-19,000"????
does this mean i have to pay for the post and the time to read it?? or does it mean i can pay an extra 20g's to have them do what ever i want? id donate to a fund to have lance take an hour space walk w/ no space suit!
oh crap, i probably shouldnt post at 2am
What do you think this is? A joke?
But, if you want to save $2K and achieve the same result...
1. Put Lance in an envelope with the sender's address as "Space Station, Earh Orbit"
2. Mail him to your own address
3. Refuse to accept him and send him back to the post office
4. The PO will send the mail back to the original sender, i.e. the Space Station
The web is a dominatrix. Everywhere I turn, I see little buttons ordering me to Submit.
$60K for it to come back down?!! What are they trying to do, get it delivered in one piece or something?! Like that ever happens with regular post. To get it back down I can't see why they wouldn't just throw it out the window. Sure, it may do a few thousand laps of the earth first (just like regular post), and it my burn up on reentry (your own fault for inadequate packaging), but think of the amount of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf merchandise you could buy with the savings.
1) Take Printer to ISS
2) Tell people to send letters for 20K
3) Scan letters
4) email letters
5) Print letters on ISS
6) PROFIT
Given a midsize cardboard box, a large garbage bag and a hacksaw, I think I can package him appropriately.
This has got an expensive "just because i can" and useless coolness factor to it like, renting a suite in a nice hotel, getting a buggy when playing golf or using a Palm handheld
Anyone who can afford this can probably afford to launch their own satellite...
"If anything can go wrong, it will." - Murphy
Sounds like a great idea. I have one request though...
For the return trip, he takes the shuttle.
Bad taste, I know, sorry. ;)
You don't get to send much "Celestis will place cremated remains into personalized flight capsules that can hold approximately one-quarter ounce (7 grams) of ashes" It's a symbolic act. I'm guessing that your letters will weigh a bit more
Not just the wedding rings.
But you could send your favorite SIFI junk then send it up and back again and sell it on as truly out of this world.
Same kind of thing for new age healing power of space type junk
Very special edition Franklin Mint includes 0.001% of real space exposed material
That's just a few moments of thinking
ehh. the bbc article seems a bit confusing about this.
the per kilogram costs are cited from some russian sources as what it costs THEM to move that mail first up, then down, and to process it. one kilo fits quite many of those 20k$-30k$ letters.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Why would anyone want that, when you can actually talk to the peeps up there, which is free if you have the necessary license/equipment (which is easy to get and cheap)...
I've been trying for years to send mail to the post office that Apollo 15 left on the moon. Although this was a notable achievement for the newly reorganized USPS, it doesn't seem to have a ZIP code...