Masten Space Systems is now selling payload slots where you can have 350 grams of your stuff launched into suborbital space. For the introductory price of $99, you can send your soda can-sized cargo to an altitude of higher than 100km. According to a press release on the Masten site, the company is developing vertical takeoff/vertical landing vehicles for suborbital and orbital missions. They promise the first customer missions in spring of 2007. From the payload order page:
Payloads are generally sold in 1 kilogram increments at $250 per kilo. For those that want a standardized form factor we are offering CanSat flights. A CanSat is the same size as a standard 12 oz soda can with a mass limit of 350 grams. You can buy kits from various vendors such as Pratt Hobbies. Normally CanSat flights are $199 but for a limited time they are going for an introductory $99.
Remember, this is suborbital only. We won't be offering orbital payloads for several years and even then they won't be anywhere near the $199 price.Over the next several months we will be releasing versions of the payload manual which includes interface definitions and physical characteristics such as vibration and G loads.
Link (via Gizmodo, thanks Lindsay Tiemeyer!)
