Bellevue asteroid-mining company raises over $1.5 for space telescope in Kickstarter campaign
Jul 1, 2013, 5:23 PM | Updated: 5:42 pm
The Bellevue-based asteroid mining company that wants to build the world’s first public space telescope has raised over $1.5 million in a Kickstarter campaign to help pay for the project.
Planetary Resources announced Monday more than 17,600 backers pledged $1,505,366 for the effort to build ARKYD during the 33-day campaign. It’s among the top 25 projects in Kickstarter history.
“We’re excited that the first public-use orbiting space telescope, the ARKYD, is a go for launch. Because of the 17,000+ people who backed this project through our Kickstarter campaign, we’re going to put a new tool for education and exploration into the hands of researchers, students and teachers,” said Peter H. Diamandis, M.D., Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Planetary Resources in a statement.
Among the backers is aviation and entertainment mogul Richard Branson, who kicked in $100,000 to the campaign along with joining the asteroid mining company as an investor.
“I’m excited to be part of the Planetary Resources’ team working on extracting precious minerals from near-Earth asteroids. The only way to truly explore our Solar System is to develop the technology and means to sustain our presence in space without depleting resources of Earth,” Branson said.
The ARKYD is planned for launch in 2015. When it’s operational, researchers, educators and students will be able to access the telescope and point it where they want to explore the cosmos.
Nearly 16,000 donors who kicked in $25 will get to take a “Space Selfie.” Photos will be displayed on the satellite’s external screen as it orbits the Earth. The ARKYD’s camera arm will take a picture of each supporter’s personal photo with the Earth in the backdrop and send the image back.
While the company has a number of deep-pocketed investors behind it including Google co-founder and Chief Executive Larry Page, Ross Perot Jr., and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, company founders said they launched the Kickstarter campaign to gauge public support for the project.
“The crowdfunded ARKYD telescope is for the people. Space exploration is now something that we all can actively join, not merely passively watch. People of every age and background will be able to explore and learn about the cosmos and make their own discoveries,” Eric Anderson, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Planetary Resources, Inc. said.
