Masten Space Systems’ says “We will send 350 grams into space for 99 dollars!”

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.

David Masten, CEO, said, “CanSats have been flying for years on smaller rockets as part of educational programs to teach engineering and spacescience to high school students. By extending the CanSat capability into space, we are exposing K-12 students to world class science and real world engineering challenges.”

Masten Space Systems

Originally posted at Foxcheck.org by dusty.

Technorati Tags: Space, Science, Technology, CanSat, Spaceflight, Commercial-Spaceflight