DOGE-1 CubeSat to fly to the Moon atop a Falcon 9 rocket
SpaceX launched its first dedicated rideshare mission, Transporter-1, on Jan. 24, 2021. In early 2022, another rideshare mission is expected to include the DOGE-1 CubeSat. Credit: Theresa Cross / Spaceflight Insider
Last month, Geometric Energy Corporation announced the first mission to the Moon paid entirely with the Dogecoin cryptocurrency.
Geometric Energy Corporation, a Canadian Engineering company, plans to send its 88-pound (40-kilogram) DOGE-1 CubeSat to the Moon via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission in 2022. It is designed to collect lunar-spatial intelligence using a combination of cameras and sensors.
“Having officially transacted with DOGE for a deal of this magnitude, Geometric Energy Corporation and SpaceX have solidified DOGE as a unit of account for lunar business in the space sector,” said Geometric Energy’s Chief Executive Officer Samuel Reid in a company press release.
While it isn’t clear how much the company paid for the spot on the rocket, a dedicated Falcon 9 rocket is around $62 million. At the time of the May 9, 2021, announcement, Dogecoin was worth around 58 cents per coin. Since then, the cryptocurrency’s price has fallen by around 50%.
Details of the other spacecraft launching on the rideshare mission with DOGE-1 have not been made available. SpaceX Commercial Sales Vice President Tom Ochinero is aware of the significance of the launch, saying the mission would demonstrate the viability of cryptocurrency beyond Earth and establish a “foundation for interplanetary commerce.”
Theresa Cross
Theresa Cross grew up on the Space Coast. It’s only natural that she would develop a passion for anything “Space” and its exploration. During these formative years, she also discovered that she possessed a talent and love for defining the unique quirks and intricacies that exist in mankind, nature, and machines. Hailing from a family of photographers—including her father and her son, Theresa herself started documenting her world through pictures at a very early age. As an adult, she now exhibits an innate photographic ability to combine what appeals to her heart and her love of technology to deliver a diversified approach to her work and artistic presentations. Theresa has a background in water chemistry, fluid dynamics, and industrial utility.
