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Image Author: ArchWorks, Image source [Deviant Art](https://www.deviantart.com/archworks/art/Doge-424729279), Published: Jan 4, 2014 Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License

"Sending a Literal Doge Coin to Literal Nearspace"

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Hey all you crypto enthusiasts out there! Its been a while from posting simply because there are not enough hours in the day. Give me a 48 hour day and a 100 year lifespan and I will live life more fully than I am now. Sadly that's not the case. Projects and working at an offroad suspension company takes more of my time now. Ironically I decided to take on a personal project that has ,within the last few days, affected a lot of cryptocurrency holders.

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Eight years ago I launched a high altitude balloon with a group of students from The California Institute of Technology. The launch was part of the Inaugural year of The Global Space Balloon Challenge. We launched from Badwater Basin in Death Valley. At an elevation of -200ft below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America. Ironically, while initiating the launch one of my teammates conversed with a bystander who worked on the Red Bull Stratos mission, he even had the badge with him. The launch and recovery was a success, obtaining beautiful photos and video above Death Valley.
This last year has seen an explosion in cryptocurrencies being purchased by average every day people. Elon Musk, the worlds richest person, has had a huge impact on the cryptocurrency markets. Simply by tweeting, Musk has caused huge sways in the market. He first touted Bitcoin, sending the price up, then touted Doge coin as the average humans currency. He has now done an about face on Bitcoin, sending its price as well as most altcoins plummeting. The markets have now erased months of progress.
![Elon_Musk_2015.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQzURteLWH4E6WFBFePwEByoGmCWuaDLgkBfKwZY1Skc7/Elon_Musk_2015.jpg)

Image Author: Steve Jurvetson, Image Source: [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/18659265152/), "cc-by-2.0"

Elon made one mistake....he claimed to be the first to send "a literal Doge coin to the literal moon", yet he has not done so and will not until 2022. As someone who has launched previously, iv taken the task on to compete with the richest man in the world. Obviously a high altitude balloon cannot compete with a Falcon 9 rocket, but id like the opportunity to take the wind out of Elons sails. He can not make the claim if its not true.
My plan is to send a payload containing a Doge cold storage coin into near space, keeping Elon from claiming to be the first to launch one. I also plan to send Doge to the wallet while in flight. There will be other items included in the payload for scientific purposes but this fundraiser is strictly to help me usurp Elon Musk and remind him the average person has a voice. Please help me obtain my goal.
I started a [gofundme account](https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-beat-elon-send-a-doge-coin-to-nearspace?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&utm_medium=os&utm_source=customer) to help pay for the more expensive items of the launch. Helium is becoming more scarce and inflation in the U.S is starting to become a problem.
Gofundme only accepts USD but if you would like to contribute with a cryptocurrency (other than supporting this post) please email LarryHolzhauser at geemail dot com. to set up the transfer. The more this project is paid with cryptocurrencies, the closer we get to competing with Elon Musk sending up a nanosatalite named Doge-1, paid for by Doge coin. Thank you all for everything.
$1500 goes too: - 244 cu ft helium tank with helium (roughly $500) - gas for vehicles to get to/from launch/recovery location - a monthly subscription to Spot Gen 3 Personal Tracker for GPS monitoring - Doge coin cold storage wallet (1oz silver) - TX-1500 Weather Balloon from Kaymont Balloons - Parachute for recovery
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All photos, unless otherwise stated or sourced, were taken by @csusbgeochem1 and may not be reused without permission. Animations and cover photo created by @csusbgeochem1 using GIMP.