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| Image Credit: Laura Burns |
I totally admit it, I am a Kickstarter junkie. As I try to restart my blogs, you will likely hear me talk about various Kickstarter projects. This is not to tell you how to spend your money, just to tell you about exciting things I have found in the universe.
Just like shopping in local businesses rather than box stores when possible, it is a clear way speaking out with my dollars. At the same time, I am helping someone else achieve their goals.
There are risks to Kickstarter. You are basically acting as a mini-venture capitalist. In my experience, I’ve had many more positive experiences than neutral or negative. I guess it is partially my attitude. I realize that I am taking a risk and that my rewards are partially physical and partially with positive karma.
I have supported projects of all different shapes, sizes, types, and kinds. What is more exciting is when one of my passions, the exploration of space, my friends and Kickstarter all combine. The project “Space Elevator Science - Climb to the Sky - A Tethered Tower” is such an convergence.
There is a LOT of information in this Kickstarter, and a lot to absorb. Michael Laine of the LiftPort Group has made it his life’s mission to build an elevator to space. How cool is that? An elevator to SPACE. There have been some bumps along the road, and this project has a lot to do with getting things back on track. Build an elevator to space ON THE MOON. Yes, you heard me right, on the MOON. Pretty awesome, right?! With Kickstarter you can be a part of the project.
Interestingly, Michael with a very modest goal of $8,000, but set stretch goals up to $3 million. As of when I am writing this, there are 4 days left to support the project. (Ends Thursday, September 13 at 6:07 AM EDT). Thus far they have well surpassed the $50,000 stretch goal, and are very close to the $75,000 goal before the end of the project. I’m hoping they meet the $100,000 goal, but that is going to take some effort in only 4 days.
Clearly, for with this project, they aren’t going to jump on a rocket and fly to the moon. That won’t happen for a few years, eight if the estimates are correct. A lot of things factor into that estimate. What they are going to do with this Kickstarter is start raising funds for the feasibility study and ground test projects.
I don’t want to re-cap everything on the Kickstarter page itself, or all of the pledge rewards, but there are a few things that just beg for some mention. For just $5 you can get a piece of space elevator ribbon. There are lots of great options for less than $50. At the higher levels, there are some awesome rewards as well. You could put down a deposit on carbon nanotube wedding rings, you could get some custom art, or you could be the first to jump from the space elevator platform. That is just a sampling. Even if you can’t afford the higher and highest levels, I recommend reading them to find out the amazing things they doing.
