Launcher challenge

摘要

Sir, We have set up a company to challenge Britain's reliance on foreign launchers. Our aim is to boost the number of payloads available by appealing to the man in the street for funding, so bypassing the perennial problem of funding shortages caused by governmental parsimony in space matters. Our initial offer is to launch small loads such as DNA, ashes and other personal effects into space at a cost of ￡30 per gramme on a British made Equinox rocket. Maximum load is in the order of 4kg. The rocket, under development since the 1980s, weighs about 100kg at launch and is 127mm in diameter and about 3m long. It is capable of lofting the 4kg payload to a height of over 100km. A number of areas in the UK are being explored as possible sites but offshore launch options may best suit the project.