Canadian Space Industry
Geometric Energy Corporation pays for lunar CubeSat mission with DOGE coin
Geometric Energy Corporation (GEC), a Calgary, Alberta based intellectual property firm announced that it will send its 40kg CubeSat to the Moon via SpaceX's Falcon 9 rideshare program.
As a world first, the mission will be funded entirely with a cryptocurrency, DOGE, using blockchain technology.
The Doge-1 mission to the Moon is set to launch in Q1 of 2022. The payload's mission is to obtain lunar-spatial intelligence using sensors and on-board cameras.
"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 via Newsire
In a press release shared on April 01, 2021, GEC announced its inaugural mission, Geometric-1. According to the release, the mission will launch no sooner than June 2022. Compared to Doge-1 and its 40kg CubeSat, Geometric-1 will launch a 12 x 6U CubeSat adapter plate into Earth's orbit, with the goal of offering 6U CubeSat specifically for startups and projects with smaller budgets.
Coincidentally, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk alluded to SpaceX putting Dogecoin on the Moon on April 1st:
SpaceX is going to put a literal Dogecoin on the literal moon
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 1, 2021
Per Michael Sheetz of CNBC, the price of dogecoin plunged during Musk's (aka the self-proclaimed "Dogefather") debut as host of Saturday Night Live.
News — SpaceX, the day after Elon Musk's doge-filled appearance on SNL, announces it is accepting $DOGE to pay for a payload on a lunar Falcon 9 mission next year.
— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) May 9, 2021
SpaceX VP Tom Ochinero: "We're excited to launch DOGE-1 to the Moon!" https://t.co/gUhFzaP2X7
Musk later confirmed the deal via Twitter
SpaceX launching satellite Doge-1 to the moon next year
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2021
– Mission paid for in Doge
– 1st crypto in space
– 1st meme in space
To the mooooonnn!!https://t.co/xXfjGZVeUW
