Universe Today
We've
written about Uwingu previously
, and this creative new concept for creating funding for space exploration and astronomy is now in their final push to reach their Indigogo goal of raising an initial $75,000 through their
Indiegogo page
(similar to Kickstarter) to get the company going. After that, they hope to be self-sufficient and build enough resources to be a source of grants and funding for space and astronomy research. Indigogo provided the group a rare extension in their funding-raising drive, which now goes through Monday night, September 24 at 11:59PM Pacific Time.
Why Uwingu?
"It seems like every single year there is a funding problem for space researchers and educators, and every year it is something different," said one the people behind Uwingu, Alan Stern,
speaking on Colorado Public Radio.
"It's the economy or Congress or budget overruns, or cuts from the presidential administration, but every year there is a budget battle. ... We started to think, what could we do that could make a difference?"
Stern is a huge name in the space and planetary science community, and he's currently the principal investigator on the New Horizons mission to Pluto, and was formerly Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate.
Stern and the impressive group of individuals from the space and astronomy community who have teamed up to do this had the idea of creating a for-profit company that sells space themed products that children, educators, hobbyists -- a wide range of people -- who can purchase and enjoy. Half of all revenue go towards funding space research and education, and the other will go towards the costs of creating what they sell. Plans are to sell entertaining and educational apps about space and other themes, starting next month.
"We are asking people to go the Indiegogo page, take a look and consider participating, and then to please pass it on to others you know." Stern told Universe Today. "For everyone 10 people you send it to, maybe one will contribute. This needs to grow organically by people passing it on through the internet. We're hoping the space and astronomy people will help give us a start, but when it launches with the real first products out into the broader public, we think it will be a real breakout."
"If we can get that message across, I think it will fly. I have faith in this," Stern added.
As the funding period closes out,
Stern will be on the Coast-to-Coast radio show with George Noory
from 10-midnight PDT on Monday, September 24, so listen to him talk about Uwingu, New Horizons and the other missions he is part of.
To contribute to the project, or to learn more about Uwingu, visit the company's Indiegogo page:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/180221
