Loading

Search

:

Startup Offers Satellites to Send Declarations of Love Into Orbit

  • Category:Other
TSUKUBA, Ibaraki Prefecture--A Japanese startup is hoping to convince romantic types to make a gesture for their loved ones so grand that it is literally out of this world--sending proof of their devotion up into space.

Warpspace Inc., an enterprise from the University of Tsukuba, will start a service to send metal plates celebrating weddings to outer space aboard ultra-small satellites it has developed.

The satellites carrying the commemorative plates will orbit the Earth for two years after being released from the International Space Station (ISS) late next year.

Working with Okura Frontier Hotel Tsukuba, Warpspace, which was founded in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, by Toshihiro Kameda, an associate professor of mechanics at the university, began taking reservations for the service in late July.

“I want to expand the scope of private use of space by allowing people to use it easily,” said Kameda, Warpspace CEO.

Couples who hold wedding ceremonies at the local hotel can engrave their names on titanium plates measuring 1.8 centimeters long and 0.8 cm wide.

Under the plan, up to 600 plates will be sent to the ISS on an ultra-small, cube-shaped satellite measuring about 10 cm per side. The satellite will be launched by a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) rocket.
The plates and satellite will never become space debris as they will burn up, according to Warpspace officials.

Couples who send their memorial plates to space will receive photos taken by astronauts of the satellite being released from the ISS. Warpspace is also considering sending e-mails to users in advance to let them know when the satellite will be flying above Japan.

Sending a plate to space costs 30,000 yen ($271), excluding tax. Warpspace will accept reservations until February next year.
For more information, contact Okura Frontier Hotel Tsukuba at (https://www.okura-tsukuba.co.jp/eng/).

People who do not want to hold weddings at the hotel but are interested in the service should send e-mails to Warpspace (support@warpspace.jp), as the company is thinking of opening up the service to all.
 
 

Comment(s) Write comment

Trackback (You need to login.)