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Russia to Offer Space Mail

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?"

22 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. uhhhhh by thesadjester · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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
    1. 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

    2. Re:uhhhhh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The ashes are on a one way trip. The letter ain't.

  2. only $20,000!? by RTPMatt · · Score: 5, Funny

    for 20g's can i request that lance recieve permanent residence?

  3. load size? by a302b · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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
    1. Re:load size? by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Insightful

      did you actually UNDERSTAND the article?

      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.
  4. In Soviet Russia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    oh wait...

    1. Re: In Soviet Russia... by Kinniken · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actualy, that sounds pretty much like "In Capitalist Russia" to me...

      --
      What do you know about World Politic? Find out in this quiz
  5. Great excuse... by Fat+Casper · · Score: 4, Funny
    "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.
  6. I wonder... by Pettifogger · · Score: 4, Funny

    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

  7. 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!!

  8. NASA... by Michael's+a+Jerk! · · Score: 3, Informative

    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.

  9. 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.

    --

    SecondPageMedia - Wha
  10. Well by Timesprout · · Score: 3, Funny

    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
  11. Just wait... by cperciva · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...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?

  12. Re:Whats the point? by waynemcdougall · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's OK. I expect to have mine returned marked "Insufficient Postage".

    --
    Recycle PCs and build a wireless community network www.hillsborough.org.nz
  13. No by thejk · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.
  14. Re:no, wait by Prof.Phreak · · Score: 3, Funny

    Delivery of one kilo of cargo... ...
    id donate to a fund to have lance take an hour space walk w/ no space suit!


    Or how about have'em sent there a kilo at a time...

    --

    "If anything can go wrong, it will." - Murphy

  15. 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

  16. 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.

  17. 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

  18. 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.