Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Emerging Tech
  3. News

Moonspike, the world’s first crowdfunded lunar rocket, wants to send your data to the moon

By

moonspike kickstarter project
When it comes to lofty goals, one Kickstarter project is taking the concept of shooting for the moon pretty literally. Moonspike, heralded as the “world’s first crowfounded rocket,” has taken to the fundraising platform to attempt to garner over $900,000 in cash in order to “transport your photos, videos, and data to the moon.” With just about a month to go, the team has raised $16,448, representing about 2 percent of their goal, but how does the saying end? “Shoot for the moon — even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

According to the team’s Kickstarter page, the goal “is to build a two-stage, liquid-fueled vehicle that is capable of lifting a small spacecraft into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). We will then send that spacecraft to the Moon carrying our payload,” which could consist of data and information you send to the team (along with your donation). The spacecraft itself will be relatively small, maxing out at a weight of 147 kilograms (around 324 pounds), and will serve mainly as a vessel for “volumes of liquids and gases used to push it toward the moon, with communications and guidance electronic.”

Moonspike: the World's First Crowdfunded Moon Rocket

Moonspike itself is actually a small titanium shard “designed to survive a hard landing with the moon.” Contained within the spike will be a data store that, fingers crossed, will be embedded in the surface of the moon. So yes, you’re paying to fund a rocketship that will ultimately stab an extraterrestrial body with loads of information.

Recommended Videos

But this isn’t really the end goal of the project. “By rethinking the parameters of space travel,” the team says, “We’re trying to make access to space cheap and accessible for the average person.” And better still for you, the backer, the Moonspike folks promise full transparency. “A typical space project will be quite secretive. We’re going to be almost the exact opposite,” they claim on their Kickstarter page. “Whatever happens, good or bad, we’re going to be open about it, through blogs, videos, and interviews. Instead of hiding behind a wall, we’ll let you see exactly where your support is going on a very regular basis.”

Related

Of course, unlike other Kickstarter projects, where payoff seems is often tangible and relatively instantaneous, you’ll have to be ready to commit for the long haul if you involve yourself with Moonspike. Necessary next steps include renting a rocket factory, equipping workshops, buying materials, paying staff, and then actually building the damn thing. But hey, good things come with time.

So if you want to make history by being part of the first ever crowdfunded data trip to the moon, head on over to Kickstarter and make your donation to Moonspike.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Lulu Chang
Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
The best portable power stations
EcoFlow DELTA 2 on table at campsite for quick charging.

Affordable and efficient portable power is a necessity these days, keeping our electronic devices operational while on the go. But there are literally dozens of options to choose from, making it abundantly difficult to decide which mobile charging solution is best for you. We've sorted through countless portable power options and came up with six of the best portable power stations to keep your smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other gadgets functioning while living off the grid.
The best overall: Jackery Explorer 1000

Jackery has been a mainstay in the portable power market for several years, and today, the company continues to set the standard. With three AC outlets, two USB-A, and two USB-C plugs, you'll have plenty of options for keeping your gadgets charged.

Read more
CES 2023: HD Hyundai’s Avikus is an A.I. for autonomous boat and marine navigation
Demonstration of NeuBoat level 2 autonomous navigation system at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

This content was produced in partnership with HD Hyundai.
Autonomous vehicle navigation technology is certainly nothing new and has been in the works for the better part of a decade at this point. But one of the most common forms we see and hear about is the type used to control steering in road-based vehicles. That's not the only place where technology can make a huge difference. Autonomous driving systems can offer incredible benefits to boats and marine vehicles, too, which is precisely why HD Hyundai has unveiled its Avikus AI technology -- for marine and watercraft vehicles.

More recently, HD Hyundai participated in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, to demo its NeuBoat level 2 autonomous navigation system for recreational boats. The name mashes together the words "neuron" and "boat" and is quite fitting since the Avikus' A.I. navigation tech is a core component of the solution, it will handle self-recognition, real-time decisions, and controls when on the water. Of course, there are a lot of things happening behind the scenes with HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation solution, which we'll dive into below -- HD Hyundai will also be introducing more about the tech at CES 2023.

Read more
This AI cloned my voice using just three minutes of audio
acapela group voice cloning ad

There's a scene in Mission Impossible 3 that you might recall. In it, our hero Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) tackles the movie's villain, holds him at gunpoint, and forces him to read a bizarre series of sentences aloud.

"The pleasure of Busby's company is what I most enjoy," he reluctantly reads. "He put a tack on Miss Yancy's chair, and she called him a horrible boy. At the end of the month, he was flinging two kittens across the width of the room ..."

Read more