A $100 Million Trip to the Moon

Kyusaku Natsume writes "Russia's federal space agency will offer a $100m trip to the moon. From the UK Guardian's article:" "We've had the necessary technology for many years, the only problem will be finding someone prepared to pay that much." "

Comments

Seems a bit steep to me...

[TripMaster Monkey]

From TFA:

Space tourists will not land on its surface but will circle its dark side and orbit close enough to examine its cratered lunar crust. They would live in two cramped modules about three metres across and eat biscuits and food in tubes.

Doesn't sound all that great, really...$100 mil for that? I can do that right now for free...in fact, I am doing that right now (sitting in my cramped cubicle, eating Ding-Dongs from the snack machine, and examining the cratered lunar crust.

Oh, and by the way,

"There is no dark side of the moon really...matter of fact it's all dark."

Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon

Re:Seems a bit steep to me...

[savagedome]

Space tourists will not land on its surface but will circle its dark side and orbit close enough to examine its cratered lunar crust

In other news, the space agency was approached by a space enthusiast who suggested paying using the jingling sound of quarters worth $100 million in a tin cup. The sources confirm that the agency denied him the ride.

Warning

[matt21811]

Warning: Dont buy this. The price is does not include a landing. You just fly around the moon and come back. It is clearly a rip off.

Re:Warning

[iocat]

Yeah, I was just reading my Lonely Planet: Moon guide, and they said specifically to watch out for drinks that didn't have a listed price, and foreign space agencies that promised you the moon, but not a landing on the moon...

But the real question is...

[WindBourne]

does it include the return trip?

Re:So lemme see if I got this right...

[Raistlin77]

Oh damn, I don't even get to stand on it... One hundred million dollars - seems a little Dr. Evil-esque.

except

[NeMon'ess]

Once you're there getting back will cost another hundred million.

Didn't RTFA

Three steps to a better world

[wowbagger]

1) Convice Bill to offer "one BILEEEON dollars" for a landing.
2) Get Russians to provide it - one way.
3) Profit!

Re:Three steps to a better world

[cosmo7]

Baikonur: OK, Bill, you need to switch on the retro-rockets to enter lunar orbit.
BG: OK. Is that a wizard?
Baikonur: Try the wizard first.
BG: Got it. It says the Soyuz launch vehicle is not attached.
Baikonur: Ignore that. Click next.
BG: OK. There's an option for the retro-rockets. Selected. Oh, now it says the Soyuz has to restart.
Baikonur: OK.
(two minutes pass)
BG: Hmm, it seems to have forgotten the retro-rockets setting.
Baikonur: OK, go to control panel.
BG: Hold on, it wants me to update my virus settings.
Baikonur: Ignore that, you're going to miss your orbit insertion window.
BG: OK, Navigation Controls.
Baikonur: No, it's in Configuration Options
BG: O... K...
Baikonur: Click advanced.
BG: OK. Ah, I see retro-rockets in the list.
Baikonur: Select and click configure.
BG: It's grayed out.
Baikonur: Hmm. Are you running as admin?
BG: Uh huh.
Baikonur: It shouldn't be grayed out.
BG: It is.
Baikonur: Did you check the retro rockets are properly installed?
BG: Wow, I'm going right past the moon.
Baikonur: OK, lets try doing a 180 and using the main engines. Go to Thruster Options.
BG: OK. There's a little dog asking me if I want to lift off.
(etc, ad infinitum.)

I wonder if...

[B11]

they'll take a post-dated check?

I just have to get my plan to hold the world hostage with a giant "laser" off the ground.

discount

[tubbtubb]

Can I get a discount if I lose a few pounds?

Seriously though, kids weigh far less and take up less space, what about a donation for a make-a-wish foundation candidate?

Re:discount

[grub]

what about a donation for a make-a-wish foundation candidate?

Good idea. If the rocket explodes on the way up or the craft disintegrates on the round trip or burns up reentering the atmosphere we could just shrug and say "Hey, the kid was going to die anyway."

Just don't be the 13th to go

[Shadow Wrought]

Unless you want to say, "Bakinour, we have a problem."

What a bargain

[ChrisF79]

Damn, I'd pay the $100M but I don't think my boss would let me take the week off.

Re:So lemme see if I got this right...

[badfish99]

Maybe NASA could pay it? They haven't been to the moon for a while.

Russian Space Value Meal

[Momoru]

Welcome to Crazy Ivan's Russian Experience!!! Everything is for sale, all offers considered!!!

Please choose one of the following from our "Government for sale" programs:

1) Drive a t-37 tank - $50,000
2) Fly a MiG - $200,000
3) Pilot Nuclear Submarine - $1,000,000
4) Fly to IIS - $20,000,000
5) Fly to Moon - $100,000,000
6) Kill a Chechnian - $50
7) Preside over Duma for a day - $10,000

Or anything else you want to do! Just name it and we'll stick a price on it.

Re:Russian Space Value Meal

[WormholeFiend]

How much would it cost to off a Russian spammer?

One ticket please. Aisle seat.

Re:So lemme see if I got this right...

[DarkHand]

$100 Million - is that first class or economy?

From TFA:
Space tourists will not land on its surface but will circle its dark side and orbit close enough to examine its cratered lunar crust. They would live in two cramped modules about three metres across and eat biscuits and food in tubes.

So to answer your question: Compared to most major airlines, you'd be going first class!

ebay feedback:

[Thud457]

"Seller is A-one first rate! That really was the real moon right outside my window. Really the authentic item."

What else is included?

[mustangdavis]

For $100 million, they better do better than just a pass around the moon!

For example, the Russians on board had better be some REALLY hot Russian babes (like those mail order brides they are always advertising)!

For $100 million, I'd want to be the first guy to have a three way in Space! (with 2 hot women - of course). I also want the exclusive rights to reproduce and sell the video :)

For that matter, would I be the first guy to have sex in Space?

I mean, seriously, if they're not landing on the moon, they had better give me something to do for two weeks. Two weeks in Space would get boring after the first few days if I had nothing to look forward to other than flying around the moon and (hopefully) landing (in one piece). They'd have to provide some serious entertainment for me to fork over that kind of cash ... (that is, if I had it).

Thousand-mile high club...

[dpbsmith]

It might be easier to find someone willing to pay that kind of money for a private, small but luxurious compartment, big enough for two, and a short, orbital or perhaps even suborbital trip with a couple of hours of weightlessness.

The hook...

[airship]

The hook is that beverage service is not even included. By day 3, they expect to be able to charge you another $100 million for each can of Coke. And it won't even be real Coke, just some weird Uzbekistan knockoff named 'Koke'.
(Please imagine unintelligible Cyrillic characters between quotes. I am poor and cannot afford to waste my few precious real Cyrillic characters in Slashdot posts.)