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SpaceDev Auctioning Microsatellite Mission On Ebay
physicsnerd writes "SpaceDev has announced that they are auctioning a Microsatellite Mission on Ebay. From the SpaceDev Press Release: "Most earth orbiting small satellite missions can cost $25 million or more, not including the launch. To demonstrate the affordability of private space missions, SpaceDev has posted a "Buy it Now" price of $9.5 million which includes an insured launch and on-orbit insurance. The high bidder will win a spacecraft based on SpaceDev's Maneuvering and orbit Transfer Vehicle (MTV(TM)).""
I want my
I want my
I want my (MTV(TM))
sulli
RTFJ.
This seems more like a "name-the-sat" contest than an actual scientific launch. Note that they promise only the ability to put some of your stuff in the launch vehicle and see pictures from "your" sat. Likely, the sat will be one THEY designed used for THEIR purposes, not your scientific pet project.
Since when has this country used intellectual elite as a pejorative term?
9.5 million is affordable? For whom?!
I'm just guessing, but probably to people who would otherwise spend >$25 million for a launch.
i don't like my old sig.
Free publicity. There are people who look for weird things being auctioned on ebay. If they hosted it themselves, they'd also need to do the publicizing themselves.
"They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
The auction clearly lists State Department ITAR approval as a prerequisite for winning. The same policy that is killing the US launch industry now protects you from terrorists wielding microsatellites that they bought on eBay.
Yes, we do.
I can't tell you about the secret launch facility or the antimatter weapons. Soon all your base are belong to hippies.
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