With companies like Virgin Galactic and SpaceX getting everyone excited about commercial spaceflight, it was only a matter of time until some enterprising capitalist came up with a way to make easy money by relying on people’s gullibility.

ZeroG Aerospace has announced:

ZeroG Aerospace Launches Affordable Space Tourism for the Masses
Holiday Shoppers Can Reserve Their Spot and Send Personal Items to Space and Back on March 27th Maiden Voyage for Only $49

From their website:

With ZeroG Aerospace, you become a pioneer in the new space tourism movement by participating on ZGS-1, the first commercial space tourism option for the rest of us!

If you’ve dreamed of participating in space travel, but don’t have millions of dollars to spend, or are afraid for your life, then ZeroG Aerospace is for you.

Let us send Your Personal Item into space and permanently enter your name in the International Space Registry as a pioneer who has accessed space - a registry dedicated to preserving a list of those who participated in the creation of the new frontier - space travel!

Next March, for $49 bucks, you can send a business card or “Space Ring” in the ZGS-1 rocket for a trip that’ll take your trinket 70 miles up–where it’ll be in space and weightless for several minutes! Or you can buy a “Space Box,” a 1x1x0.75-inch box that you can pack with anything you wish, as long as it doesn’t weigh more than a tin of Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm (0.8 ounces).

ZeroG is partnering with UP Aerospace, who makes the SpaceLoft XL rocket that ZeroG is calling the ZGS-1. ZeroG doesn’t specify what the ZGS-1’s payload capacity is, but the SpaceLoft XL can carry 110 lbs, which is a lot of business cards! Hmmm, let’s see, a box of 500 business cards weighs about 2 pounds, so that’s 50 boxes x 500 cards/box x $49 per card and you’ve got a $1.2-million-buck payday baby!

Not bad for a 15-minute flight.

But wait, there’s more! When your “space item” returns, it gets entered into ZeroG’s International Space Registry:

The International Space Registry is a unique, one-of-a-kind memorial web site that lists all those persons who have successfully delivered items to space! The Registry will prominently display important information about the launch, the vehicle and the owner. The Registry forever memorializes you as a true “space pioneer” for all the world to see, in a searchable, easy-to-read format!

Check out their website and see if it reminds you of something….Like maybe a certain company that let’s you name a star after someone? Since 1979, the International Star Registry guys have been making a bundle off the easily fleeced. In fact, they had another advertising blitz on AM radio during the run-up to Christmas, so obviously there’s no shortage of suckers.

While you’re at ZeroG’s website, make sure you read their FAQ, it’s entertaining:

Well … what happens if the rocket is destroyed or does not reach space?

If your items are damaged in the flight they will have more ‘character’ and they will be returned to you in accordance with the ZeroG Terms of Use. If your item (s) are lost or destroyed, ZeroG will provide you with first availability on another launch within one year, where you can send another item of exact size and weight to space. Please refer to the Terms of Use for specifics.

Due to the expense of insurance for the standard items flown to space, ZeroG cannot provide insurance as a standard practice as it can dramatically increase the cost. Should you wish to purchase insurance, you should contact ZeroG directly to discuss your needs.

What if the rocket explodes?

If the rocket explodes it will make a very dramatic fireball in the sky and parts will rain down on the flight range for several minutes. Even so, it is likely that the ZGS-1 capsule will be recovered in tact, and you will not be killed, maimed or even injured.

Heinlein’s DD Harriman had nothing on these guys!

Tags: zeroG | spaceflight | rocketry