Greetings,

Yes, I think they are very much for real! Interorbital Systems are also part of team SYNERGY MOON, a fully registered team in the Google Lunar X PRIZE.

I can only see a price of $8k (not 4k). Still a bargain compared to the price of a cubesat launch today (~$80k I think). The 8k includes all necessary avionics even a radio. Note that the tubesats are placed in an orbit where they will decay within a few weeks. Therefore, long term missions would require some propulsion to bring the tubesat into a higher and stable orbit. Some cubesat builders are already experimenting with micro-propulsion systems for cubesats.

73 Alex OZ9AEC

Quoting w7lrd@comcast.net:

I checked to make sure it wasn't April first.  As Bruce said, "if this is for real", the question should be not putting a linear transponder on it, but how many!  For 4K a few of use could pool our Visa cards!

73 Bob W7LRD

----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Robertson" ve9qrp@gmail.com To: "AMSAT-BB" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, August 2, 2009 6:02:01 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb]  Tubesat, a $4,000 launch opportunity

The first team that puts a linear transponder on board one of these, wins! (And I want William Leijenaar PE1RAH on my team ...)

http://spacefellowship.com/2009/08/01/interorbital-syatems-tubesat-personal-...

Seriously, if this is for real, I think AMSAT should get at the front of the train and provide hardware, or hardware design, for those who plan to use it.

73, Bruce VE9QRP _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb