A YouTuber Is Taking Humans To Space For Free. You Can Keep The Astronaut Suit At Home
Mark Rober, a NASA engineer turned YouTube launched a selfie satellite 'SAT GUS' to space for humans to capture a selfie with Earth in the background.
Who Is In Space? A website devised just for space nerds gives us real-time updates of the humans currently living far away from our pale, blue dot. And if you are curious, there are 13 humans in the space at the time of writing this article. Here comes the fun part: You can be the next human up there. Assuming (politely) that you do not have a bunch of spare crores lying around to book a seat on one of those ridiculous commercial space joyrides that billionaires routinely take, a NASA engineer turned YouTuber is here to save you money and the effort. 'I Spent $5,000,000 So You Can Go To Space For FREE," Mark Rober titled his most recent YouTube video.
There must be some catch, right?
Mark Rober
YouTube's very own science educator and inventor Mark Rober is no ordinary online content creator. Rober has spent nine years at NASA, seven of which were spent on working on the Curiosity rover at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The 45-year-old has also worked at the tech giant Apple. Here, he was employed as a product designer in company's Special Projects Group and worked on virtual reality projects. The enginerd 's resume is as impressive as they come but now he's found fighting seed-stealing squirrels and glittery porch pirates in a corner of the Internet. Rober's newest project, however, has cost him over Rs 42 crore and it could perhaps be his most ambitious project on YouTube yet.
Crunch Labs
Created by Rober, Crunch Labs is a toy company for kids who 'think like an engineer". The Build Boxes work the same way as assembling a Lego does, except, Rober teaches a science lesson with every new box sent out while the kids get busy building their new toy.
(Crunch Labs)
Rober's recent Space Selfie project comes under his toy company and pet project Crunch Labs.
Space Selfie
The science educator, along with his dedicated team, launched a satellite in January this year to help humans take a Space Selfie. Made up of 7836 parts, the satellite nicknamed 'SAT GUS" left the planet aboard Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9. He, in his video, revealed he and his team spent three years on this project.
'I slept as poorly last night as I have in over a year," Rober said on the day of the launch of satellite named after the channel's beloved squirrel 'Phat Gus". 'I am very nervous. There's just a lot at stake here. There's just so many things that could go wrong, not just today, but as the satellite goes up that… it's like that nervous excitement pit in your stomach that makes you want to jump for joy and puke in the toilet."
How To Apply?
Carrying a Google Pixel screen, the YouTuber's satellite is decked with a Redwire Argus camera. All you have to do is submit your selfie to the website SpaceSelfie.com. The team will then transfer your selfie wirelessly to the SAT GUS satellite. The onboard camera will snap a photo of the Earth while displaying your selfie on the mounted screen in the foreground.
'I made a secret promise. If we somehow pull this off, I will make use of the selfie satellite free forever to anyone on the planet."
Those who have seen Mark Rober accumulate nearly 70 million subscribers on the platform were left in complete awe when the video dropped on May 24.
'Mark Rober just redefined what YouTube should be in 2025: turning childhood dreams into reality, sending selfies to space, and proving that with science, passion, and $5 million, even a squirrel can make history. Thank you for the inspiration, the tears, and the reminder that 'impossible' is just another challenge to solve," a YouTube commenter wrote.
'Mark is actually such a talented engineer despite retiring from NASA, respect to him, he also influenced me a lot into becoming a Mechanical Engineer," another wrote.
'My selfie's gonna be out of this world," a third added.
Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!
tags :
mark rober YouTube
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 30, 2025, 12:29 IST
News explainers A YouTuber Is Taking Humans To Space For Free. You Can Keep The Astronaut Suit At Home
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Nisar unfurls antenna reflector in orbit
Nisar team members at JPL, along with colleagues at ISRO facilities in India. Depicted on the screen at right, the reflector unfurled from 2 feet across in its stowed configuration to its full size, 39 feet, in 37 minutes. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) BENGALURU: A major milestone has been achieved in orbit for Nisar, the joint Earth-observing satellite mission from Nasa and Isro, as its massive radar antenna reflector was successfully deployed, Nasa's Jet Propulsion System (JPL) has confirmed. Spanning 12 meters in diameter, the drum-shaped antenna reflector is a critical piece of science hardware for the Nisar mission. Designed to capture precise measurements of Earth's changing surface, the reflector had been tightly stowed since launch on July 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Its successful deployment marks a turning point as the mission prepares to begin full-scale science operations later this year. Mounted at the end of a 9-meter boom, the reflector began its complex unfolding process on Aug 9, JPL, which is leading the Nisar project from Nasa's side, said, adding that over four days, the boom extended joint by joint. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More 'Then, on Aug 15, small explosive bolts that held the reflector assembly in place were fired, enabling the antenna to begin a process called the 'bloom' — its unfurling by the release of tension stored in its flexible frame while stowed like an umbrella. Subsequent activation of motors and cables then pulled the antenna into its final, locked position,' JPL said. Nisar project manager at JPL Phil Barela said this was the largest antenna reflector ever deployed for a Nasa mission. '...It's a critical component, and seeing it successfully bloom in space is the result of years of design, testing, and collaboration,' Barela added. Weighing around 64 kilograms, the reflector consists of 123 composite struts and a gold-plated wire mesh. Its large surface area enables the satellite's dual radar systems, Nasa's L-band and Isro's S-band synthetic aperture radars, to scan Earth's surface with exceptional detail. These radar systems allow Nisar to detect changes as small as a few centimeters, even through clouds, vegetation, and darkness. 'Nisar is poised to gather data that will help us understand Earth's dynamic systems like never before. This mission will empower communities and decision-makers with the science they need to improve infrastructure, respond to natural disasters, and strengthen food and water security,' Karen St. Germain, director of Nasa's Earth Science Division, said. One of the satellite's core capabilities is interferometric SAR imaging, which compares radar images taken over time to track subtle shifts on the ground. This technology will be used to monitor glacial movement, earthquake fault zones, volcanic deformation, and even ecosystem changes in wetlands and forests. 'Synthetic aperture radar works like a camera lens, focusing signals to create sharp images. With SAR, we can generate 3D movies that show how Earth's surface is changing — data that would be impossible to gather with traditional radars,' explained Paul Rosen, Nisar's project scientist at JPL. Nisar builds on a legacy of radar development at JPL, tracing back to missions like Seasat in 1978 and Magellan, which mapped Venus in the 1990s. 'With its antenna now deployed and systems undergoing final calibrations, Nisar is set to begin delivering science data by late fall,' JPL said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala make heads turn with their sleek appearance at Hyderabad airport in a car worth Rs 1.03 crore
Tollywood heartthrob and actress made a striking appearance at Hyderabad's International Airport on Friday — not just for their star presence, but for the stunning set of wheels they arrived in. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The couple cruised in a brand-new grey BMW M2, a luxury performance coupe that instantly commanded attention. Chaitanya, known for his refined taste in high-performance cars, was behind the wheel while Sobhita sat beside him, both sharing smiles as cameras caught the moment. This luxury car launched in India earlier this year, comes with a price tag of approximately Rs 1.03 crores, as reported by India Today. From Jubilee Hills to the runway This wasn't the first time the new ride was spotted in the city. Just days earlier, Chaitanya was seen taking the same M2 for a spin around Hyderabad's upscale Jubilee Hills, accompanied by his father, veteran superstar Nagarjuna. That father-son joyride, also captured by onlookers, had already sparked curiosity about the actor's latest acquisition. The M2's muscular design, coupled with Chaitanya's understated yet suave driving style, seems to be the perfect match for his personality, classy, effortless, and undeniably fast. Fast cars, faster smiles A long-time motoring enthusiast, Chaitanya's garage is no stranger to exotic machines. He has been spotted in the past behind the wheel of a striking red Ferrari 488 GTB, among other prized rides. Fans often note that whether it's with family or rumoured partner Sobhita, Chaitanya always looks most at ease when driving. On the professional front, the actor was last seen in 'Thandel' opposite Sai Pallavi. But off-screen, his passion for cars continues to make headlines, and the latest BMW M2 seems destined to be yet another chapter in his love affair with speed. On the other hand, Sobhita Dhulipala was last seen in 'Love, Sitara'. Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya Pose With Family, Seek Blessings Of ANR Garu At Wedding
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Hema Malini once rejected this film of Raj Kapoor, later became a blockbuster but left Ranbir Kapoor's grandfather disappointed, film was.., earned Rs..
Hema Malini once rejected this film of Raj Kapoor, later became a blockbuster but left Ranbir Kapoor's grandfather disappointed, film was.., earned Rs.. In the golden era of cinema, actors came and went. But most of them had a dream of working with the most sought-after and visionary director of those times, Raj Kapoor. It was believed that a film with Raj Kapoor could redefine an actor's career and give him an assured ticket to stardom. But amongst the many budding actors who were just waiting for one opportunity of collaboration with Raj, there was one actress who rejected his offer, and this really disappointed the showman. The actress that we are talking about is none other than the 'Dream Girl' of Bollywood, Hema Malini. Hema Malini ventured into the world of films and began her career at a very young age. She first appeared in the South film industry and later entered Bollywood with Raj Kapoor himself, who gave her one of her earliest breaks. Her Bollywood debut was with the showman himself, also famously known as today's superstar Ranbir Kapoor. As soon as she entered Bollywood, she captivated the hearts of many and then never looked back. She quickly became one of the most sought-after actresses of her time. Why did Hema Malini reject Raj Kapoor's film? Years later, Raj Kapoor personally approached Hema Malini once again, this time with an offer for his ambitious film Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978). For this film, Raj even visited her residence to narrate the story and her role. But unexpectedly, Hema Malini, who made her debut with this celebrated filmmaker, turned down the offer. As soon as Hema heard about the character, she politely declined. The reason? Her role in the film was extremely bold, and Hema, despite being a superstar, did not want to take on such a character on the big screen. Who took over the role later? Later, this role, which was declined by Hema, went to Zeenat Aman, who portrayed it with great confidence. This Raj Kapoor film also featured Shashi Kapoor in the lead role, and it went on to become a significant hit. Made on a budget of ₹1.60 crore, it earned nearly ₹4.50 crore worldwide, almost 4 times what it cost. Even though this highly ambitious project of Raj Kapoor turned out to be a massive hit, reports suggested that Raj Kapoor was upset with Hema for rejecting the film. Considering their earlier association and his faith in her talent, her refusal reportedly hurt him. Still, Hema stood firm in her decision, as she was clear about the kind of roles she wanted to play. This story of Hema Malini's refusal speaks of her strong boundary setting and headstrong attitude.
