Scientists Invent “Space Currency”

Monday, Oct. 8 2007 | Author: Michael

Yeah…I’m not making that up. This BBC article points us toward foreign exchange company Travelex, who is really thinking ahead. They hired a group of scientists from the National Space Centre and the University of Leicester to create “space money”. Why? Well…let’s let them explain it.

“None of the existing payment systems we use on earth – like cash, credit or debit cards – could be used in space,” said Professor George Fraser from the University of Leicester.

“Anything with sharp edges, like coins, would be a risk to astronauts while the chips and magnetic strips used in our cards on Earth would be damaged beyond repair by cosmic radiation,” he added.

The scientist continued: “With an inflatable space hotel, from Bigelow Aerospace, under development in the US, and Virgin Galactic developing SpaceShipTwo, there will be better access to space than there has been.

“In the fullness of time we will have to adopt a universal currency if we are going to carry out serious commerce in space. It’s an interesting initiative.”

Travelex is firmly behind it stating, “It’s only a matter of time before people will be walking up to our shops and asking for Quids for their two weeks in a space hotel.”

Currently the space currency is trading at £6.25 to the Quid.

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2 Responses for "Scientists Invent “Space Currency”"

Cleon

October 8th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
1

Wow, this is *really* stupid.

——
“Anything with sharp edges, like coins, would be a risk to astronauts while the chips and magnetic strips used in our cards on Earth would be damaged beyond repair by cosmic radiation,” he added.
——

Let’s take a look at all the fun stuff that’s wrong with this:

Astronauts regularly take up equipment that is no less a “hazard” than coins. For example, pens. And screwdrivers. And buttons.

“…he chips and magnetic strips used in our cards on Earth would be damaged beyond repair by cosmic radiation.”

See, here’s the thing. Space vehicles are *shielded* from cosmic radiation. Because, see, cosmic radiation, were it permitted to flow merrily about the cabin, would have a nasty effect on the actual *astronauts*.

Even if that *weren’t* the case, finding a new radiation-safe method of storing the information kept on debit/credit cards would be infinitely easier than coming up with some new bizarre currency.

This effort strikes me as being in the same league as those bozos who tried to sell Lunar real estate. It *might* be legit, but it’s so silly and asymptotically close to “scam” that it really makes no difference.
Michael

October 9th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
2

Cleon pretty much sums it up.