Planetary Resources Space Telescope for the People by 2015 is about 50% of its fund raising goal after 31 hours

The ARKYD is a technologically advanced, orbiting space telescope that will be controlled by the public

The Planetary Resources kickstarter has been open for less than five seven thirty one hours and has already raised over $100,000 $142,000 $470,000 (or 10% 14% nearly 50% of the goal). The one million goal will likely be reached June 1st.

The goals that we want to achieve with this Kickstarter mission are four-fold:

* To give students access to space capabilities — Whether studying planets in a 5th grade class or writing a graduate thesis, students of all ages will have the ability to direct the telescope and explore what interests them! We’re planning some exciting new educational opportunities just for K-12 educational programs.

* To support important research and discovery — There are thousands of institutions and researchers in need for greater access to in-orbit space observatories. The ARKYD will provide a new, low-cost resource to help observe distant galaxies, search for alien planets, and monitor the skies for potentially dangerous asteroids. Researchers at MIT, the University of Washington, and across the globe have shown interest in using the ARKYD to further their important research.

* To build excitement about space and all of its potential — The ARKYD is designed to be a fun and interactive experience that is accessible to anyone. This kind of direct access to a satellite is unprecedented. Our backers will be the first people in history to control a public space telescope!

* To give YOU a say — What makes this mission unique is that we’re putting control of the telescope in YOUR hands. You’ll get the opportunity to help decide which science centers and museums are the beneficiaries of ARKYD telescope time, what photos to take, and more. We’re putting YOU in control! By pledging toward this mission, you’ll receive access to our website and mobile apps allowing you to follow along with the progress of the satellite, sneak peaks at photos and videos, and get voting access to make your voice heard in the future direction of the satellite!

Pledge Levels and Benefits

Pledge $10 or more

54 backers

OUR THANKS — This level gets you our eternal gratitude! Community access to photos, videos and updates as our satellite is built and launched. You will also have a say in how the telescope gets used.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2013
Pledge $25 or more

287 backers Limited (24713 of 25000 left)

(Digital) SPACE SELFIE — Take a selfie in space. You upload your creative self expression (any picture) and we’ll capture that image on the satellite, with the Earth as the background. We will take the photos in the order pledged, so get yours first! You can track the countdown to your #spaceselfie on our app. Your photo will be sent to you, and (if you want) shared out on our membership site! NOTE: T-Shirt add-ons are also available! — We will also provide you with a pledge certificate shortly after the end of the campaign, acknowledging that your space selfie is in queue. Makes a great gift for the space advocate among your friends and family!
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Pledge $39 or more

56 backers Limited (9944 of 10000 left)

(Printed) SPACE SELFIE — This includes the Digital Space Selfie level. We will mail your two 4” by 6” prints, along with a certificate of authenticity.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Add $5 to ship outside the US
Pledge $65 or more

142 backers Limited (9858 of 10000 left)

(Digital) HD SPACE SELFIE — This gives you a 300% increase in resolution! This is our favorite level, because Earth is worthy of a few more pixels. NOTE: Printed HD Selfies are also available as an add-on!
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Pledge $99 or more

92 backers

HELP FIND KILLER ASTEROIDS & ALIEN GALAXIES — Help protect our planet from hazardous asteroids and better understand the evolution of our solar system. On your behalf, we’ll give students and scientists five minutes of observation time on the ARKYD’s main-optic! Virtually join a research team as a citizen scientist contributor and receive regular updates on their research and findings! You will also receive a (Digital) HD SPACE SELFIE before all lower pledge levels. + As extra appreciation, all pledgers this level and higher will get an annual membership to The Planetary Society, the world’s largest space advocacy non-profit organization!
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Pledge $200 or more

60 backers Limited (940 of 1000 left)

PRIVATE ASTRONOMER — Pledge here and YOU are in control. Point the telescope at any celestial object (other than the Sun) and we’ll take an image for you – sent digitally to your desktop! + (Digital) HD SPACE SELFIE + 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Pledge $450 or more

5 backers Limited (495 of 500 left)

(Digital) SPACE PHOTOGRAPHER — Take 3 of your own observations with the ARKYD! + (Digital) HD SPACE SELFIE + 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Pledge $650 or more

1 backer Limited (499 of 500 left)

(Printed) SPACE PHOTOGRAPHER — Take 3 observations with the ARKYD and have your favorite shot turned into a large poster, with the reverse side signed by the engineering team and mailed to you. + (Printed) HD SPACE SELFIE + 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Add $8 to ship outside the US
Pledge $1,000 or more

3 backers Limited (497 of 500 left)

PLANETARY ADVOCATE — Two tickets for a special event exclusively for Planetary Advocates that includes a tour of Planetary facilities where you get to meet the people behind the ARKYD, sign a roster that will go up on launch day, and leave the event with a 3D model of the ARKYD. You will also get group-exclusive quarterly briefings from the Co-Founders. + Special Limited Edition Mission Poster Signed by the engineering team + (Printed) HD Space Selfie (Prioritized to be one of the first we take!) + 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Pledge $1,750 or more

1 backer Limited (99 of 100 left)

EDUCATION SUPPORTER — K-12 school, university, or museum (of your choice, if desired), will get the essentials to make Science & Technology come alive with the Arkyd: + 10 Main Optic Observations to be directed by the teacher and students + 10 (Digital) Space Selfies for the students to take + Educational Poster describing the technology that makes the ARKYD work. + Special Limited Edition Mission Poster Signed by the engineering team + Access to a curriculum and tutorial developed by the team at Planetary Resources, in collaboration with educators + 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Pledge $2,500 or more

0 backers Limited (200 of 200 left)

YOUR VIDEO IN SPACE — Upload a short 6 second video OR 144 frame flipbook-style scene to be displayed in orbit! The video will be recorded in time lapse (if desired), so you will see the Earth rotate beneath your video. We will send you the video file, with the option of featuring it on our site. + Special Limited Edition Mission Poster Signed by the engineering team + (Printed) HD Space Selfie (Prioritized to be one of the first we take!) + 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Pledge $5,000 or more

1 backer Limited (49 of 50 left)

EDUCATION AMBASSADOR — One K-12 school, university, or museum (of your choice, if desired), will get the educational experience of a lifetime. Access to the Arkyd, plus teaching tools to make Science & Technology come alive: + 25 Main Optic Observations to be directed by the teacher and students + 30 (Digital) Space Selfies and 30 Mission Patches to provide to students + Educational Poster describing the technology that makes the ARKYD work. + Access to a curriculum and tutorial developed by the team at Planetary Resources, in collaboration with educators + A full size desktop model of the ARKYD as a teaching tool with the pledger name (if desired) etched into it. + 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015
Pledge $5,000 or more

1 backer Limited (99 of 100 left)

BENEFACTOR — You are a distinguished visionary helping to invent the future. + One ticket to join Planetary Resource Founders & Investors at two major events – The Finished Spacecraft unveiling and the Rocket Launch Event. + Your name will be etched on the Spacecraft + You get a full size desktop model of the ARKYD for your desk signed by the engineering team (unique to this level). + (Printed) HD Space Selfie (Prioritized to be one of the first we take!) + 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society
Estimated delivery: Jun 2015
Pledge $10,000 or more

4 backers Limited (46 of 50 left)

GRAND BENEFACTOR AND EDUCATION AMBASSADOR — This is our Highest Level and we want to make sure you are part of History! In addition to sponsoring the K-12 school, university or museum of your choice (Education Ambassador), you will receive: + (Printed) HD Space Selfie (Prioritized to be one of the first we take!) + Two tickets (You and a friend) to join Planetary Resource Founders & Investors at two major events – The Finished Spacecraft unveiling and the Rocket Launch Event. + Invitation to sign the spacecraft before it launches. Your name or message will also be etched on the Spacecraft – Visible to the world in every Selfie produced + We’ll name an asteroid the telescope discovers after you (first come, first served!). We’ll use the name internally, but will also propose it as the official asteroid name to be recorded in the history books! + 1-Year Membership to Planetary Society
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015

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