Entrepreneurship

"A startup called Elysium Space is offering an easier, cheaper way to get into space – and it will have you there by next year. There is, however, a slight catch. First, you have to die. For $1,990, Elysium Space, which is today announcing itself to the world, will send a portion of your cremated remains – or those of your loved one – into space on a CubeSat that will then orbit the Earth for several months before ultimately re-entering the atmosphere and burning up in in a spectacular blaze. With that entry fee, you’ll also get the opportunity to watch the launch live, and you can track the satellite’s movements via a mobile app." Continue reading →

"It currently costs about $100,000 to send a standard 3-pound satellite into low Earth orbit. Larger masses can be a little bit more affordable, but can still cost up to $5,000 per pound. Lucky for the human race, there are smart people out there trying to solve this problem. One company, HyperV Technologies Corp., has proposed a 'railroad to space using a mechanical hypervelocity launcher to enable large-scale space utilization' that will be only one-hundredth of the cost of the rockets we currently use. Fancy, I know. They’re calling it the Slingatron." Continue reading →