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Author
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Topic: Team Encounter (public participation solar sail)
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Mr. Apollo 17 Member Posts: 55 From: Ashland, OH USA Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 07-09-2012 07:13 PM
I was recently doing some research into solar sails and discovered the "Team Encounter" project. It involved a small spacecraft carrying items sent in for money: photos, messages, drawings, and hair samples. It was to first launch in 2001 but got moved to 2005. Then, it allegedly fell off the face of the Earth. The phone numbers no longer work and its website is only the home screen. Does anyone know anything about this? Did this program really steal about $400,000,000 from people and $100,000 from the U.S. government. Did anyone on here order from Team Encounter? Any info would be good. I want to know what happened with this. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-09-2012 11:14 PM
Clark Lindsey posted a brief summary of the Team Encounter aftermath on HobbySpace in 2005. Chafer was the driving force behind the space burial firm Celestis, the predecessor to Space Services, and Team Encounter. Team Encounter was a solar sail project, which offered the public the opportunity for a fee to send messages and memorabilia on a spacecraft heading out of the solar system.In September of 2004 the primary investor decided after sinking $7M into both ventures to shut them down. Chafer was successful in his efforts to re-acquire Celestis, but was unable to do the same for Team Encounter. |
Mr. Apollo 17 Member Posts: 55 From: Ashland, OH USA Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 07-09-2012 11:44 PM
Thanks Robert! So, not that I would take any, but do you think that legal action could and should be taken against them for the $400,100,000 that people and the government payed Team Encounter? It surely is a great project but they needed to give the people that gave them money a response about why they closed. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-09-2012 11:59 PM
I don't have one of their boxed sets to reference, but it wouldn't surprise me if the retail kits that Team Encounter sold included a disclaimer that purchase did not guarantee a spaceflight — much like naming a star or buying a plot of land on the moon doesn't legally give you title over either. They are sold for entertainment purposes only.On edit: Looking at the archived Team Encounter website, it is clear what they were selling were memberships in the Team Encounter club, not a guaranteed spaceflight of your DNA, photo or any other item. Your membership came with the opportunity to send something aboard the spacecraft if and when it launched, but your payment was only for a membership in the club. By the way, what's your source for the money paid? It doesn't make much sense that the primary investor would withdraw his support after spending just $7 million if they were successful in bringing in more than $400 million. |
Mr. Apollo 17 Member Posts: 55 From: Ashland, OH USA Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 07-10-2012 01:00 AM
Sorry too many zeros. 50000 (encounter2001.com) kits times $80 per kit = 4,000,000. Sorry. Now I see, okay if it wasn't guaranteed that it would fly, it's okay. That makes sense. I was kind of surprised that no one had ever taken legal action; now it makes sense why. Thanks for all your help! | |
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Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a
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