Slashdot Mirror
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)).""
Man EBay Commission is going to be $$$$$$$$$$$$ on this one....
Feels a bit like watching a webcam from space..
It's a shame Ebay had to pay $25 million, the price that most such launches cost, for using the "Buy it Now" feature without owning the patent.
You really can get anything on ebay.
User spacedev has 0 feedback and wants over 9 million for his item. He won't see me bidding on this.
I think they're going to get a few sensible bids due to Slashdot bringing this to everyones attention.
Get your own free personal location tracker
Want to buy.. Refurbished space laser to be launched into space on cheap rocket for undisclosed use.
Personal Website
Most geeks can't afford something like this -- but terrorists can. I wonder what the shipping is to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Is Paypal accepted?
Hmm.
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.
This offered mission will include, but will not be limited to:
* Mission Design
* Satellite Design
* Satellite Construction
* Satellite Testing
* Payload integration into satellite
* Satellite integration into launch vehicle
* Launch of satellite
* Command and control of satellite
* De-orbiting of satellite
I get to pick the payload, but do I also get to pick where it will land? Redmond, here I come!!!!
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
They can send a payload into space for under $10 million, but they still can't fix their crappy home page design?
As luck would have it, my kids would probably get the controls and send it crashing into china, then run screaming "DADDY, WE WON!"
i can see it now, i'll place my bid and 2 seconds before the auction ends some geek will up the bid by 5 cents using some fancy auto-bid software and my plans for world domination will be foiled. again. if it wasn't for those pesky kids blah blah john ashcroft yada yada oil oil oil
All I Want For Christmas Is My Constitutional Rights
I would have bid, but I make it a policy not to bid on auctions from sellers with zero feedback. You never know who you're buying from these days.
I don't know about you, but I know what's going on the top of MY christmas list. Hell, at that price, I might get two!
Under capitalism man exploits man. Under communism it's the other way around.
You RTFM you fool..
You control the cameras, you get to look at what you want, You can even timeshare out the camera time and use it to make money.. You can replace or put other gear beyond personnal gear as long as you pay for it.
Come on what parts of
" A satellite that you can command from the comfort of your own home or office, simply using your PC and the Internet"
OR
"Through this auction you can purchase exclusive use of an actual SpaceDev MTV(TM) satellite"
Do you not understand.. Lets repeat this "EXCLUSIVE USE"
Personal Website
Hmmm... I could have swore these people where at my door trick-or-treat'ing on halloween!
The way I see it, owning (at least in part) a satellite is a lot like owning a radio station.
My uncle owns a few stations, and the scheme works like this; he buys a radio station for around $10 million (with hefty financing from a bank, of course), and arranges it so that the monthly payments on the loan are less than the monthly revenues from the radio station.
Maybe there is a similar opportunity for small business owners to have access to a satellite like this? Lord knows, I can't think of anything. How could a satellite bring in $10 million? I mean, aside from Real Genius Death Lasers and government spycams?
for great justice, this sig has been moved
I reckon there's got to be in the region of a million slashdotters here. We chuck in 20 USD each, and we've got us an orbiting camera.
Now, I can see this going one of two ways:
1) Hey, look, there's Ashcroft edging the yard! Who's your privacy daddy now, huh?
2) Hey, there's Natalie Portman in a bikini! Who's got the zoom?
I'm up for it. Who's with me?
Warning: May contain nuts