I'm sending cameras and the first Ninja Turtle up into space to get some amazing pictures/video. Who wants to be a part of HISTORY!?
What is the goal of this project?
With your help, I want to send a digital camera and video camera up into what’s called ‘near-space’ by attaching them to a weather balloon and parachute, so I can get some amazing pictures and video of the Earth and Space from close to 100,000 feet (about 20 miles) up. That far up, the Earth’s horizon looks blue and you can see the actual curvature of the Earth.
Many people have done this before, and in recent years it has become an emerging hobby. NASA spends millions and billions of dollars to send satellites up. Granted, a camera sent up into a balloon can’t take pictures of a galaxy billions of light years away, but how much would NASA spend on a project like this? Probably a million or two.
Attached to the balloon and parachute will be a payload, an insulated box with the cameras, GPS unit, more insulation (since that far up, it’s around -40 degrees F), and a few other things based on which rewards are picked by backers, and of course, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figure from the original toy series!!!
At around 80,000-100,000 feet, the balloon will expand to its limit and burst, starting the free fall from Space. The parachute will eventually start slowing it down enough to where the impact of landing most likely won’t damage any contents. As it falls, with the GPS installed, I can track the flight with my computer, and within hours, I will be looking through some amazing pictures and video taken from the flight.
Why send a Ninja Turtle into Space?
One of the main questions I've been asked since I started this project:
"Eli, why send a Ninja Turtle toy into 'near space'?"
My answer: "Why not?" My second answer is that when thinking of this project, I knew that many people have sent weather balloons up before. Some have even been so popular that their story has been on popular websites and the news.
I had to make this 'my own', and just a few minutes later, I thought I could possibly be the first to ever send a Ninja Turtle into space. I searched, couldn't find anything, and now here I am. Am I the first to discover gravity, am I the inventor of the automobile, am I curing a disease? No. But I will, until someone proves me wrong, be able to say I was the first person EVER to send a Ninja Turtle into space.What will you get for being a 'totally awesome' backer?
You, the potential backer, have an opportunity to receive some amazing rewards!!
--Name and link of your choice (your site, Facebook, or favorite charity) on my two websites AND the closing credits of the DVD, and a personal ‘Thank You’ email.
--Access to the best 100 pictures from the project (to use however you want).
· ---DVD of the entire project
· ---Name sent into space
· --- Special T-Shirt made specifically for this project
· ---Your link PERMANENTLY on my website!!!
· ---8x10 and 11x14 prints, framed and unframed
And some of the major rewards:
· --- Limited Edition T-Shirt designed for this project
· --- Send YOUR item into SPACE!!!
· --- And of course, you can come to the launch, help out, have lunch and dinner, tickets to a NFL game, one of the cameras from the launch, and much MORE!!!
If you get to send an item into space, then all you have to do is send me the item, I’ll make sure it gets into the DVD that it launches with everything, and I’ll send it back to you.When will the launch occur?
I plan on launching the balloon in August or September of this year (because of the rewards that involve Titans tickets). If no one chooses a reward with Titans tickets, I’ll attempt to launch it sooner. I’m just anticipating getting a job, plus raising a toddler takes up most of my time. I’m super excited to do this project, but I don’t want to rush it. Whenever it’s ready to launch, I will let the backers and fans know on the project blog, and on Kickstarter.
What will the money raised go towards?
Although I'm funding a lot of this project on my own, I still need help with the following, hence why I'm on Kickstarter:
§ Weather Balloon
§ Helium (Surprisingly one of the most expensive items needed for this project)
§ Parachute
§ 2 Cameras
§ GPS Unit
§ Other odds and ends needed to launch
§ Your REWARDS!!
There are quite a few less expensive things I need, but I'm buying a lot of that on my own, such as memory cards, radar reflector, sturdy styrofoam cooler, and zip ties.
But Eli, what if you SURPASS your funding goal?!
- First thing that I will buy with extra money? An HD video camera for crystal clear video. What's even better is that if the 'Honorary Ninja Turtle Forever' isn't taken, then the backer who donates the most money will RECEIVE the HD video camera!!!
- A second launch!! That means double the pictures and video. If I surpass my goal, I'll add more rewards to accommodate people that may have missed out on other rewards if they're sold out.
- Better tracking equipment. I already have a laptop, and plan on getting basic GPS tracking equipment that has been proven to work, but if I get more money than I ask for, I’ll get more reliable equipment.
How far along am I?
At the time of this project launch, I have bought the following with my own money:
- Sandisk 8GB SD Memory Card for the digital camera in flight
- Two American Flag patches, to be sewn onto the outside of the payload
What if something goes wrong?
There is the possibility that when the balloon comes down, I may not be able to find it. Even with the GPS equipment and computer, sometimes the payload just gets lost. I'm going to make every effort I can to make this a successful project, but I just wanted everyone to know.
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pledged of $500 goal
THIS PROJECT IS NOT LIVE This is only a draft that the creator has chosen to share.
- First created · 12 backed
- Clayton Eli Rogers 78 friends
- Website: dadtolibbs.com
Pledge $1 or more
0 backers
----"The Foot Soldier"----: Name and link of your choice (your site, Twitter, Facebook, or your favorite charity) on my two websites AND the closing credits of the DVD, and a personal 'Thank You' email.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2012Pledge $5 or more
0 backers
----"The Shredder"----: You get 'The Foot Soldier', PLUS access to best 100 pictures and edited flight footage online (downloadable to use however you want), and your link above "The Foot Soldier's"
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $15 or more
0 backers
----"The Splinter"----: Personal 'Thank You' card in mail, FIVE different 4x6 prints, Online access to the best 100 pictures, and your link above "The Shredder's"
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $25 or more
0 backers
----"The Michelangelo"----: You get 'The Splinter', PLUS: DVD of entire project (w/custom artwork), Your name printed on a flight manifest and sent up with the payload, an AWESOME high quality wallpaper, and your link above "The Splinter's"
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $65 or more
0 backers
----"The Leonardo"----: You get 'The Michelangelo', PLUS: T-Shirt designed for this project, your link PERMANENTLY on my website "DadToLibbs.com", and your link above "The Michelangelo's"
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $75 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
----"The Raphael"----: You get 'The Leonardo', PLUS: 8x10 print of your choice, a special "Certificate of Awesomeness", I'll include your site in an upcoming blog post, AND your name and link at BEGINNING of DVD and on sidebar of my websites!!
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $150 or more
0 backers Limited (3 of 3 left)
----"The Ninja DoJo"----: Send YOUR item to SPACE!!! (Details to the left!!), FRAMED 8x10 print (or unframed 11x14 print), T-Shirt, your link above "The Raphael's", PLUS 'The Raphael' rewards
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $600 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
----"The Donatello"----: YOU can come to the launch and take all the pictures and video you want. I will buy you a nice bottle of your favorite beverage ;-), I will buy you a nice lunch or dinner, AND a ticket to a Titans preseason game. PLUS everything at 'The Ninja Dojo' level.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $2,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
----"Honorary TMNT Forever"----: 1.) I will fly you here for the launch, 2.) You ride in a limo to/from the hotel or the launch, 3.) One night at a highly rated hotel, 4.) Tickets to a Nashville event/attraction of your choice, 5.) Meal at a nice restaurant, 6.) Choice of camera from launch, 7.) Your very own Ninja Turtle (of your choice) flown in space, 8.) Framed & Matted 8x10 or 11x14 print, 9.) DVD, Special Edition T-Shirt, Your site at beginning of DVD and link list as a PREMIER BACKER (as well as your link on my site FOREVER), Certificate of Awesomeness (Framed), 10.) A flash drive with every picture and video made during the project, AAAAAND, 11.) A nice bottle of your favorite beverage ;-)
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
Eli Rogers wants some feedback. What do you like about this project? What could be better? Anything missing? Thanks for your help!
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