SpaceDev Auctioning Microsatellite Mission On Ebay 195
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)).""
EBay Commission (Score:4, Funny)
Re:EBay Commission (Score:2)
If you stand to make 9mil, could you at least host it yourself? FFS!
Re:EBay Commission (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:EBay Commission (Score:2)
Re:EBay Commission (Score:2)
Re:EBay Commission (Score:5, Funny)
wow (Score:1)
I bet that waiting 20 seconds to post.. (Score:3, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Affordability? (Score:4, Insightful)
9.5 million is affordable? For whom?!
I'm just guessing, but probably to people who would otherwise spend >$25 million for a launch.
Re:Affordability? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Affordability? (Score:2)
Re:Affordability? (Score:3, Informative)
9.5 Million is durn cheap for a space mission. Big commmunications satellites, for example, run about $200 millions to build and launch. A cheap NASA-managed mission runs around 50 million$ or more - although SpaceDev recently did one for much cheaper based on the PI model (minimal NASA involvement), in which UC Berkeley managed the mission.
Re:Affordability? (Score:3, Insightful)
Yes, we do. [berkeley.edu]
I can't tell you about the secret launch facility or the antimatter weapons. Soon all your base are belong to hippies.
Us (Score:4, Funny)
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?
Re: Us (Score:2)
Re:Affordability? (Score:2)
The X-prize winner.
That's great (Score:2)
Money for nothing? (Score:3, Insightful)
I want my
I want my (MTV(TM))
Question for SpaceDev (Score:2)
Re:Question for SpaceDev (Score:2)
Re:Question for SpaceDev (Score:2)
It's a shame... (Score:4, Funny)
This proves it (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This proves it (Score:2)
Hey look! D_EvilBuahhahaha1969's latest bid is up to one million dollars!
Re:This proves it (Score:2)
Not to be picky, but I've known that for a while now, ever since selling that use toothpaste tube and brush.
Sorry, can't bid on that (Score:4, Funny)
Sensible bidders, here we come (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Sensible bidders, here we come (Score:2)
Hint Hint
Anyone got a space laser cheap? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Anyone got a space laser cheap? (Score:2)
Like new! In original packaging! Never been used!
Buy It Now! for only 250,000! 15% due within 24 hrs, rest within 1 week. Shipping and handling at buyer's expense.
Re:Anyone got a space laser cheap? (Score:3, Funny)
Get it right.. (Score:2)
Re:I hate to break it to you, but read the fine pr (Score:2)
Once again (Score:1)
Well... (Score:5, Funny)
Is Paypal accepted?
Hmm.
Re:Well... (Score:2)
Think before you post.... (Score:2)
Its not like iraq has billions of $$ worth of fuel, oh wait, ..nevermind.
Re:Well... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Well... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Well... (Score:2)
Re:Well... (Score:2)
It was a joke (Score:2)
Watching my $9.5M burn? (Score:1)
Thousands may be able to witness your satellite returning from space in the form of a shooting star, a fireball that burns up in Earth's atmosphere!
Now you can have your satellite burn up just like all that money! How cute!
Re:Watching my $9.5M burn? (Score:2)
People may be able to watch your $9.5 million burning up in the sky - and that's if you're lucky! Maybe it will be cloudy, or raining, or maybe it will fall into the Pacific with nothing more than a little plop-hisssssss, giving a local whale a headache.
This could be great! (Score:5, Funny)
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!!!!
Re:This could be great! (Score:2)
technology priorities (Score:5, Funny)
Hmm. (Score:2)
video game (Score:3, Funny)
Re:video game (Score:3, Funny)
How'd they earn their right to Buy It Now selling? (Score:2)
I seem to recall that eBay restricts Buy It Now
selling to those who've sold heaps with positive
feedbacks (mostly).
Have these guys been selling heaps of extremely
small items to earn their place on eBay's lift
of Buy It Now vendors, or what?
Re:How'd they earn their right to Buy It Now selli (Score:1)
Re:How'd they earn their right to Buy It Now selli (Score:1)
Maybe you are thinking of an Ebay store or one of the other special programs they provide for high volumn venders.
Re:How'd they earn their right to Buy It Now selli (Score:2)
I guess you're wrong.
pah (Score:3, Funny)
Sorry, but... (Score:4, Funny)
Nah thanks, I got better uses for my money (Score:2, Interesting)
From the article:"...qualified people around the world would be able to purchase time slots on your satellite for a fee, and you would receive revenues from those sales.** With enough purchases, over a long mission life, you might have the opportunity to make some or all of your money back."
Sounds like a hell of a deal to me.
Oh good... (Score:3, Funny)
lunch or launch? (Score:2)
for the very first moment I thought it was lunch and wondered how would someone buy a space travel without lunch anyways, and how lunch is supposed to make a 9.5 m$ trip even more expensive, I guess it's time for a nap after hours of programming...
OFFTOPIC (Score:2, Offtopic)
Re:OFFTOPIC (Score:1)
Re:OFFTOPIC (Score:1)
I guess i'm just used to the horizontal adds. Seriously...if Slashdot goes the way of gamespy networks...or even the "click here to read your story" with a huge ass advertisement like a game
Re:OFFTOPIC (Score:2)
Re:OFFTOPIC (Score:1)
Vertical ads?
Solution (Score:2)
I use it, and don't see ads anywhere. Because it can look at the entire URL, you can block ads from a given subdirectory without killing off the entire site. You can also block web-tracking images.
Re:OFFTOPIC (Score:2)
Re:OFFTOPIC (Score:2)
Re:OFFTOPIC (Score:2)
Re:OFFTOPIC (Score:2)
Re:OFFTOPIC (Score:2)
I know the mission.... (Score:1)
If it is based on MTV its mission will go from finding stars to creating it's own instead!
put it on sale! (Score:1)
Beastie Boys! (Score:4, Funny)
I would send.... (Score:2)
If they could launch something into space towards the sun I would nominate my Microsoft and SCO Operating system licenses..."Burn baby burn"...
Mastercard jig: "Not Priceless...bid starts at only $250000 on ebay"
Al Queda is bidding (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Al Queda is bidding (Score:2)
That's actually an interesting senario, the bigot 'towel' remarks notwithstanding. Thor's Hammer, right? Orbital crowbars. Instead of a normal satellite, just put up the maximum payload consisting of a sphere of heat-resistant ceramic and a deorbiting thruster.
However, I don't doubt for a moment that the satellite comes with a non-negotiable maintenance clause that makes sure you don't get control of the thruster systems.
Choices, choices... (Score:2)
What would you use it for? (Score:1)
The ultimate 'off-shore' server (Score:2)
I suspect that you'd have no problem at all putting whatever you wanted on your satelite web server. Of course, after you started hosting mpegs of necrobeastialpedophilia whoever was linking the satelite to land lines would STOP, and you'd have cops at your door wondering where those images were generated.
It's kind of like ransom - the biggest problem isn't the crime, its trying to collect.
Pfft!!! (Score:3, Funny)
spacedev( 0 )
Feedback rating: 0 feedback reviews
Registered Nov-07-03 in United States
Seller registered within the last week with 0 feedback??? Oh yeah - like I'm gonna buy from HIM!
Re:Pfft!!! (Score:2)
You may be interested in this [reference.com].
Small Business Use? (Score:3, Interesting)
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?
Forget European servers... (Score:2)
Potential Bidders... (Score:2)
O_B_Ladden
Saddam_H
CIA^H^H_Research
NASA_Co
A_Schwarzenegger (I can imagine him saying every 90 minutes when the satallite passes over...
"Heeeyyy fellas, looook ait my wondafull California state I am in charge of...isn't this very neat and powerful?")
MTV(TM) (Score:2)
mmm..Project Crossbow, at last! (Score:2)
Now, where'd I put my List....? It seems the Revolution has arrived!
expensive bunny suit.... (Score:2)
Powered by eBay Turbo Lister (Score:2)
Humm, No money from me. (Score:2)
I'm selling one too!!! (Score:2)
$9.5 million on ebay (Score:2)
Emerging trend .. (Score:2, Informative)
Nah, Moon mission.. (Score:2)
Or maybe a solar sail..
Re:RTFM (Score:2)
Re:RTFM (Score:5, Informative)
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"
Re:RTFM (Score:3, Informative)
MTV stands for
orbital Maneuvering and orbital Transfer Vehicle
NOT the music channel you boob
Re:RTFM (Score:2)
Re:SpaceDev = Financial Problems? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:read the words (Score:2)
An academic point; do you really think they can repo it after the launch?