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Frequently Asked Questions about 1000 Planets Inc:
The following FAQ's can help give an idea of what 1000 Planets is about. Keep in mind that ours is a wide-ranging cause, and there is a place for YOU to join and contribute to what we are.
Jump to your specific question or read the entire FAQ (We
recommend that you read the whole thing ;-).
1. What is 1000 Planets Inc?
2. Is 1000 Planets a commercial
venture?
3. What does volunteering mean?
4. How do I volunteer?
5. Why should I volunteer with a 'for profit' company?
6. As a volunteer can I get school
credits?
7. How much time should I volunteer?
8. I am not in the United States,
can I still volunteer?
9. How do I communicate with
everybody?
10. I am interested in investing,
how can I do so?
11. What current teams are there
at 1000 Planets?
12. How do you see yourselves
different from other private organizations hoping to open up space
commercially?
13. What is the first product
that will be applicable to space?
14. I have a great idea for a
new corporation that should be under the wing of 1000 Planets.
What do I do?
15. Is the environment a real
concern of 1000 Planets?
16. What makes you think you can
start a multi-billion dollar business from nothing?
17. How many resources need to
be acquired in monetary value for Research & Development,
and Operations?
18. Does 1000 Planets pass the "The Frontier Enabling Test"?
1. What is 1000 Planets Inc?
1000 Planets is a company dedicated to developing private and commercial space activities. The prime goal will to be live off planet. The current main areas are desert agricultural research, locating a suitable place to build a launch facility, researching and building Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV) and Orbital Maneuvering Vehicles (OMV). 1000 Planets will achieve this through commercial non-government funded ventures.
We plan on achieving these goals by doing a lot of our own research and building. Also through mergers and acquisitions of established and profitable companies as well as launch companies that can help 1000 Planets with its main objectives. Also the short term efforts of selling of art, books, software and other forms of entertainment that will promote space. Our other short-term effort is the creation of a financial services group. A strong drive will be made towards possible investments and grants for growth capital.
There is a timeline to the projects that can be summarized as follows:
- Immediate:
Identifying people who want to achieve the dream of space through their own work. Creating web sites, establishing teams to get some of the jobs necessary done. Creating the necessary documents that will guide the company as we grow. Identify what each person can expect to receive for his or her efforts.
- Short Term:
Art sales, book sales, promotion and visibility campaigns (commercial, public speaking, interviews, banner exchange, and webrings). The establishment of a financial services division. Planetary Capital has been incorporated and is in the formation stage.
- Years:
CLESS: we will be working on a CLESS facility. First there will be a desert agriculture facility (DART) to research the plants and facilities we will use on other Planets and in O'Neil Colonies. Joint ventures, collaborative research efforts with non-profits, collaborative efforts with for profits, targeted acquisitions of small companies, funding efforts and financial services like credit union and affiliate credit card programs.
- Decades:
- Orbital Maneuvering Vehicles (multiple phases and versions)
to move satellites, clear space junk, open real estate in crowded
orbits, and used for refueling/maintenance efforts for current
and future satellites. Could also be used to boost Shuttle External
Tanks to a safe orbit. These tanks could be used to build infrastructures in space.
- Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV) and their required infrastructure.
One design idea is to use a Magnetic Track to accelerate a RLV
to scramjet speed, then it would fly using the scramjet before
using Rockets for the final boost to orbit. The second concept
is to use a two stage system with a supersonic carrier craft
such as the Tupolev-160 Blackjack; the RLV is then launched at
high altitude and speed. Orbital space stations (will grow out of our pioneering efforts from the OMV maintenance sheds and the space elevator).
Expansion outside of Earth Orbit will begin as soon as we can get at least 3 shuttle external fuel tanks formed into a space station.
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2. Is 1000 Planets a commercial venture?
From the outset 1000 Planets is a for profit commercial venture.
Incorporated on January 1st, 2001, in Washington State, USA. It has been re-incorporated in Oklahoma under new management. It
does not have charitable status. The philosophy that describes
1000 Planets is "TANSTAAFL" - There Ain't No Such Thing
As A Free LAUNCH. Which means we have to earn our way. However there will not be very many paid staff members. Most will remain volunteers who will be given stock after a while for their efforts. Most cash earned will go back into the company projects.
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3. What does volunteering mean?
Almost all of the personal at 1000 Planets are and will remain volunteers. Volunteering for 1000 Planets allows you to take part in some of the projects that are being undertaken. The projects that you do will take into account the skill sets that you have. At the moment everybody working in 1000 Planets is a volunteer, they are working in their spare time. Each volunteer contributes some time to 1000 Planets. They may be assigned projects depending on what kind of skill sets they have. Volunteering does not mean that there will not be rewards, but that there will not be immediate rewards. Our payoff will be when we have succeeded in getting a colony on the Moon, Mars or in an O'Niel colony at L5, l4 and circling the sun.
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4. Why should I volunteer with a 'for profit' company?
The reason that 1000 Planets is a 'for profit' company is because we feel that it is important to be up front and completely honest. 1000 Planets will not actually make any money for a long time. At some point we will. Until 1000 Planets actually has a working infrastructure and launch ability, very few people will get paid for the work they do except in script. The script will carry no monetary value.
The reason why one should and would volunteer to work for 1000 Planets is because they want to live in space or because they want their children to have that option. At some point the script will have value and will be accepted in trade for some useable product or service and in some cases stock in the company. This script will be called "MARS MILES".
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5. How do I volunteer?
If you are interested in volunteering your time (minimum of 5 hours a week), please submit a resume to us. In order to submit your resume just go to
Help/Join Us in the menu on your left, and fill out the form. If you want to contact us directly, then write to the CEO of the 1000 Planets Inc. (John
Wayne Smith), email him at ceo@1000planets.com. You may want to join our forums;
You will be able to create a user account; you do not need to fill in all the information if you wish to remain anonymous. If you are under the age of consent in your country then you will need parental consent to volunteer.
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6. As a volunteer can I get school credits?
Yes. In some cases it will be possible for us to get you school
credits. This gives an added bonus to all volunteers who are still
in education. Currently it applies to high school education. Although
we would be happy to extend this to college education as well. 1000 Planets will document all work done and send copies to the educational institute on request.
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7. How much time should I volunteer?
As much time as you think you can handle. On average we ask that you are able to spend at least five hours a week on 1000 Planets. Although many are working more hours, some are working 30 - 50 hours. If you are assigned a project you would have to put in as many hours as is necessary to complete the project by the dead line. All projects have to be completed and submitted before we give credit for such.
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8. I am not in the United States can I still volunteer?
Yes! You can. 1000 Planets hopes to become a global operation
and we already have volunteers in the Canada, UK, France and Germany,
Denmark and South Africa, as well as many states with in the USA.
7 countries and 10 time zones - so far! And we are still growing.
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9. How do I communicate with everybody?
We communicate via email and the forums as well as via our Java
IRC chat program.
Using a standalone IRC program, connect to irc.sorcery.net, channel #1000planets. We are usually in the chat three times a week. Tuesday and Thursday at 10PM EST (3AM GMT) and 12AM EST (5AM GMT) and Saturdays at 12PM EST (5PM GMT) to around 2PM EST (7PM GMT), although feel free to pop in any time. There also are e-mail lists. To subscribe, visit the 1000 Planets Mailing Lists.
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10. I am interested in investing, how can I do so?
1000 Planets is a private company and the next few months and years we will be looking for substantial investments. However due to US Security regulations, we cannot accept any investments at the moment. However we are happy to take inquiries as well as contact details and we will endeavor to send you information when the times comes. Emails for investment queries should be submitted to ceo@1000planets.com. You are asked to join one of the investment clubs sponsored by the Planetary Capital Group. Also check out the other financial services offered there.
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11. What current teams are there at 1000 Planets?
When you volunteer we try and take into account your
interests and the skill sets you have. A new person will be assigned
to a team and then the leader of the team will assign them a project.
Currently we have several teams, which are as follows:
- Web/Communications
Deals with the website and technologies designed to bring the
disparate elements of 1000 Planets together.
- Technical/Research
Deals with the design and building of space related infrastructure, such as the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle and Space Stations.
- Financial Services
Deals with Credit Unions and affiliate credit card programs.
- Business/Marketing
Deals with promoting 1000 Planets and making contacts within
the financial world. One of the aims is to find grants and investments
as well as developing partnerships with other companies.
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12. How do you see yourselves different from other private organizations
hoping to open up space commercially?
While we all share the common goal of opening up space to commercial activities the differences lie in the different objectives and means to do this. Many of the other organizations hope to open up space via space tourism and bringing space cheaply to the common man in the street. We however wish to go down the route of bringing services to space, which can benefit everybody. We see ourselves providing services such as the Space Tug and Reusable Launch Vehicles. Our intent is to develop the financial infrastructure, engineering resources, business partnerships, market infrastructure and all the other necessary support structures to bring business and people into the Space Age, where mankind is routinely living, working and conducting it's affairs off planet. This includes (but not limited to) creating investment mechanisms that can support such a large undertaking, developing and assisting in the development of appropriate hardware (Reusable Launch vehicles, Tugs etc.) and all the other necessary tasks to achieve this goal. We are attempting to be the champion of mankind's movement into space. We hope to bring all private efforts under one banner. We will work with any one and every one who is in this for real reasons.
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13. What is the first product that will be applicable to space?
Private launch services. It is hoped that we will have these up and running with in 10 years. The OMV (Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle) It is hoped to have this up and running within fourteen years. The construction of a space station using the expended External Tanks of the Shuttle will soon follow.
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14. I have a great idea for a new corporation that should be under
the wing of 1000 Planets. What do I do?
First start volunteering and get some work done, which will prove
that you are serious. After that, we will evaluate the idea and
see if we can effectively work it into our business model. If
we can, great. If not, we will tell you, and you are free to develop
it on your own. Right now we have more good ideas then we can
handle. But as we add people and resources, we grow. Then our
ability to take on new projects grows.
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15. Is the environment a real concern of 1000 Planets?
Yes. D.A.R.T will develop solutions to some earth bound problems while developing the infrastructure for living in space. Several of the other concepts such as portable solar power generators will also help the environment. However it should be noted that the environment is not the main aim of 1000 Planets, getting into space is. However the benefits of getting into space will in turn benefit the Earth. The possibility of helping the global environment is a good bonus. BR>
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16. What makes you think you can start a multi-billion dollar
business from nothing?
It is not from nothing. Our CEO has put a little cash into this
venture; it is enough to get the ball rolling. And that is what
is happening. The ball is rolling and picking up speed. The Stone
Soup concept works. People want this to happen, so it will. The
timing is perfect and there is global enthusiasm. Total strangers
are rooting for our success.
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17. How many resources need to be acquired in monetary value for
Research & Development, and Operations?
A lot. There is a planned 20 rounds of investment, totaling $50 Billion. This is probably not enough to satisfy all of our dreams and plans, but it is enough to be a useful start. The initial round is only $450,000. Most of that will go to attorneys and accountants, as well as filing Securities and Exchange Commission registrations. Some of it will go toward R&D and some will go toward operations. The ONLY money that will be spent on staff is what we EARN. NO invested or borrowed funds will go towards staff. It is the fastest way to burn through capital without getting any results from it. If we can't figure out a way to earn a salary, we don't deserve one!
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18. Does 1000Planets pass the "The Frontier Enabling Test"?
Our definition of a "frontier enabling" technology or policy is one which has as its effect the acceleration of the creation of low cost access to the space frontier for private citizens and companies, enables or accelerates our use of space resources, and/or accelerates the rate at which wealth can be generated in space. In other words, is the project or policy going to provide a return on the national investment, if we define "return" to be the economically sustainable human habitation of space?
~ 1995 Space Frontier Foundation
Well, we are trying to be an active part of our space future by bringing together interested people, promoting ideas and building products. If you have any questions about this, or any other FAQ question, or you would like to see YOUR question answered here, simply email faq@1000planets.com.
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