| Item | Source | Cost | Personnel | Location for Manufacture |
Status |
| Rocket Mail Paper | Vincent Baritsch Richard Osborne | ||||
| Rocket Mail Certificate | Vincent Baritsch Richard Osborne | ||||
| Rocket Mail Folder | Vincent Baritsch Richard Osborne | ||||
| Information Sheet | Vincent Baritsch Richard Osborne |
AspireSpace Rocket Mail Information.
This page displays information about the AspireSpace Rocket Mail to be carried in the cargo bay of the hybrid rockets, and its current status.
Rocket mail generally consists of a number of small (Postcard and business card sized) "covers", which are flown as cargo in a rocket. This is the method which is adopted here. Rocket mail has a following in the UK and the US, with UK rocket mail having been pioneered by the Paisley Rocketeers since the 1930's and still going today !
Mail was actually a pre-cursor to other commercial operations on almost all forms of transport (Highway carriage in the 17 and 18th centuries, Railways and Steamship in the 19th centuries, Aircraft in the 1920's and 1930's). So by flying rocket mail now, we could demonstrate a market (or at least we will be able to with a steerable parachute and GPS !).
A possible rocket mail pack would consist of:
It is proposed that the rocket mail pack will be sold for 10.00 pounds sterling. This sum is not unreasonable given the novelty value of the rocket mail (flying on a rocket). And given the associated development and launch costs, which have made the carrying of the rocket mail possible.
As can be seen, rocket mail represents a way to generate a revenue stream to fund hybrid motor development at AspireSpace. Previous enquiries have resulted in a tentative demand for 35+ orders without even looking far. If orders were taken at the exhibitions that AspireSpace attends, then they would make AspireSpace's attendance at such events cost effective. Assuming orders for 50 rocket mail covers can be placed per flight, then this would result in an income of 500 pounds sterling, much of which is profit.
Rocket Mail demonstrates a way to demonstrate to potential sponsors that we can be commercially viable as a non-profit organisation, with all money raised being ploughed back into development.
Given potential hybrid launch costs of as low as 25-30 pounds sterling, this would mean that the flight only need carry less than 10 rocket mail covers ordered, to cover the launch costs and provide a handsome profit ! Any additional profit could be ploughed straight back into the hybrid development, as well as other AspireSpace development.
Other Possible Fundraising Sources
(i) Stickers and Badges
Other possible items which could be flown on the AspireSpace rockets are stickers and badges - again these would demand a considerable premium over the non-rocket flown counterparts. e.g. 3.00 pounds sterling for a badge which would normally sell for 1.50 pounds sterling, and would have production costs of 50 pence.
(ii) T-Shirts
One flight could even carry 1 or 2 T-shirts, which would then be sold for 100 GBP or thereabouts, as mementos of a particular flights. That fact that they would be so limited edition, may interest people.
Sponsorship Opportunities
AspireSpace has not had much success with sponsorship to date, however, this does not mean that it should not be pursued. Possible options for sponsorship include:
Sponsorship logos on the rocket and launch tower.
Sponsorship logos on the ground which can be viewed by the onboard video camera during flight.
Please note, this page is subject to change.