The Organization Project

You guys seem pretty knowledgeable. Perhaps you can help me with some
questions.

What is the smallest rocket that can put itself in orbit?
What is the cheapest way to get a one ton satellite into orbit?
Are we (our group) capable of doing, or having either done?
In a way we could produce revenue to expand the business?

What could we design that, when placed into an orbit, could
produce all of us income with which we could continue the process? I say
all of us because there are 264 members and I imagine that that almost
all are adults. Could we do a mini-SPS? There are a few private
companies that lift satellites into orbit. I do not know what they
charge, it isn't cheap I'm sure, but do-able if we could make something
worth putting up.

What I am suggesting is co-op or corporation-like. I do not know
the inner workings of a corporation other than they issue stock, which
people can buy. We would need to have finite achievable goals. We would
need a president guy and treasurer and all that. Everyone could pitch in
a nickel a month and then we'd have $13.20. Now that doesn't sound like
much because it isn't.

My booster club for my unit has a president, vice president,
secretary, and treasurer. You know what they do? Throw a Christmas party
every year. That's all. All year long they fundraise and plan. Our goal
is more important than a party. Yet, we do not have these posts filled?
Nor does a nickel roll free from our wallet every month.

Why? Well this is a fun question? No party. I heard once that a
point in all directions is no point at all. We all have good idea some
have some really great ones. Do any of us have four tons of rocket
propellant in their garage? That's bad because someone should. A few of
us do and we'd have something. Enough and we could put our own junk in
orbit. Then, we have a party.

Perhaps, in my youth, I figure that anything can be done through
the sheer determination of those involved in it. One person cannot pull
down a polar bear, but 90 crazed people with bare hands can send a herd
into a panic. The number of people involved may determine the time it
takes to do it, but not as to whether it gets done. I have been told
that if you're going to do something, put the oar in the water.
Essentially get moving, and then figure out which way you want to go. I
know this doesn't apply to spaceflight, but bear with me.

Not as to leave you all hanging in the breeze, someone needs to
become head cheese here. Perhaps one is already amongst us. Some of us
send some really snazzy emails into the fray (Thor and Paul) and seem to
have the plans. There are engineers in here too, I am sure. We have the
talent in here. We just need to get the posts filled, draw up some plans
(rough and the ones in CAD), pass the collection plate (several times if
need be). See if we can't manifest our own destiny.

> ... However, what a millionnaire can do,
> can also be done by a large enough body of people all contributing a
> few dollars-worth each, and they will all have the satisfaction of
> having taken part, and may even benefit from it.
> ...
> I intended Spacefleet to be a worldwide
> effort, to cut across all political, national and ethnic divisions.
> If you agree with all this, then please go to the Spacefleet site and
> make yourself, your hopes and your ideas known.

It seems to me on first reading you essentially imply you want
donations; if this is true, under what license are you putting any
copyrights, patents that your venture produces?

Is the another proprietary project intented to be subsidized with
charitable dollars that could otherwise go to totally free works that
the space community can really build on?

--Paul Fernhout