Thursday, April 20, 2006

Launch Your Experiment Into Space for $99

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 18 — For $99 anyone can now send a payload into space through a new suborbital space launch service. Masten Space Systems’ new “CanSats To Space” payload program will carry 350 gram, “soda can” sized payloads into space and back.
Typical payloads include science experiments such as amateur space telescopes, surveys of cellular mitosis in microgravity, and multi-spectral earth imaging missions for environmental science experiments. Experiments that until recently were only available to scientists with million dollar budgets.

The company’s XA 1.0 suborbital launch vehicle will carry the CanSats into space (at least 100 kilometers) where they will experience several minutes of microgravity and can be exposed to the vacuum of space. The vehicle will then gently return to its take-off point where the CanSats are removed and shipped back to their owners. The vehicle itself provides power and data communications for each CanSat which allows the customer to focus on their particular application.

I'm still thinking about what I need to send up into space. Any ideas?

Buy the CanSat hardware at Pratt Hobbies

Masten Space Systems blog

1 Comments:

At 12/17/2006 08:23:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm a simple soul, but I keep thinking: Just give up one letter "c" and forgo a cat scan of your favorite teddy bear or mini robot for his first short space trip. I'm betting the $99 CanSat is a bargain over the radiology bill. --RfR

PS -- Don't put your metal robots in the MRI machine.

 

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