posted 03-02-2024 04:26 PM               

This is a very condensed version of what is required.

Having launched five payloads to the ISS, I can tell you that it is a very long, tedious road paved with red tape.

Firstly, you will need permission from numerous departments within NASA and the Pentagon, permission that, by the way, is not forthcoming (I will explain this further on). Not to mention a payload provider willing to do the work (for a very high fee, if at all).

Assuming you get this far, then comes the first practical step; flight certification. This requires the materials you're launching to be vacuum and thermal-tested, amongst other things. You must find a facility and team capable of doing this of your own volition (and cost).

Assuming you have agreement from NASA and the Pentagon, you have completed flight certification and found a willing payload provider, the next step is paying for all of those combined services (yes, ahead of time). When everyone has been paid, you need to wait 3-6 months for your payload to be loaded onto a rocket, and at any moment, even last second, the payload can be removed in favour of, well, any other payload and you have absolutely no say in it. If your payload is bumped onto another flight, it may not necessarily be the next one, so be prepared to wait another 3-6 months for an available flight, minimum.

But here is the most important part. NASA has made it abundantly clear that they do not want, and are unwilling, to launch commercial memorabilia payloads to the ISS.

NASA increased the prices for said payloads by nearly 700% overnight without consulting their payload partners around the time of my last payload, pricing out most small payloads and thus avoiding the situation entirely. But let's say you can afford those prices, and by now, we're talking well over six figures, they still won't want to do it. Why? Este Lauder. NASA was dragged through the mud for this, so much so that I doubt I need to recite what happened, as you are all likely already aware.

And finally, even if you manage all of this, NASA's permission is still not forthcoming, and they can and will simply ignore you until you go away. You will find that payload providers will also turn you away at the door because they don't want to irritate their contacts at NASA with flight requests they know NASA doesn't want. They simply have too much to lose.

I don't say any of this to discredit NASA or anyone who works there. In fact, I completely understand their position.