Planetary Resources started this Kickstarter campaign to make the first publicly available space telescope.

The project has already reached its initial goal of $1,000,000 and is looking to extend the Kickstarter to expand the scope of the mission.

According to their mission statement, Planetary Resources is in part interested in: “Harnessing valuable minerals from a practically infinite source will provide stability on Earth, increase humanity’s prosperity, and help establish and maintain human presence in space.”

So, basically, this is one of the first commercial attempts at space mining.  I think this is a good idea and will help spur commercial interest in space.

The goals for the space telescope are:

• To give students access to space capabilities
• To support important research and discovery
• To build excitement about space and all of its potential
• To give YOU a say

All of these are worthy goals, so if you feel like contributing follow the link above.

This gives me an idea for making a Kickstarter to purchase and maintain the ISS before it is crash landed.  Now all I need to figure out is how to get several governments to let us buy it!

– Ex astris, scientia –