The powers that be seem to be flying the EU Constitution into space to
board the ISS. How much will this extra weight cost the mission?

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/168&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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Clarification of Question by rai130-ga on 11 Feb 2005 04:45 PST

I think it weighs about two pounds...

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Request for Question Clarification by thx1138-ga on 11 Feb 2005 05:11 PST

Hello again rai130.

There is no official figure for this, so here is my guesstimate, $8500.

My reasoning is as follows:

Assuming, the EU Constitution is 852 pages of A4 it will weigh 4.25kg.
 The cost per Kg to put something into space using the Soyuz launch
vehicle is $2000.  So the total cost will be about $8500.

See:

"The official finally numbered version of the EU Constitution plus
final text of the declarations and of the protocols - please note that
the unofficial renumbered version produced by Statewatch six weeks ago
got the numbers correct. The final size of the Constitution is 852
pages"
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm

"this piece of information can be useful because each piece of the
most common office paper, A4, has a mass of 5 grams"
http://www.metricationmatters.com/mm-newsletter-2004-07.html

"We are all familiar with the cost of present-day space transport:
about $2,000 per kilo gram on the cheapest Russian boosters"
"Now the cheapest available ride is the Russian Soyuz vehicle"
http://www.space-frontier.org/cgi-bin/BBS/MoonBase/read/10022


My estimate for the weight of the constitution varies alot from yours,
so I am posting this to know whether you accept my guestimate for the
weight.

All the very best

THX1138

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Clarification of Question by rai130-ga on 11 Feb 2005 05:24 PST

That sounds fine... please post. Do you think other factors (eg time
taken up with ceremony, having to be returned to earth)would make any
difference to the cost?

Hello again rai130, and thank you for your clarification.

Well I suppose if "time is money" then yes, things like the ceremony
will have some cost, but given the enormous cost of a launch that is
probably negligible.  As for the return to Earth, well I suppose there
would be some extra fuel burned to get the capsule into position for
re-entry, but after that it's free fall all the way.

Personally I think they should save some money by putting the EU
constitution into the airlock whilst still in space, and then blow the
airlock over Europe.  It would look wonderful as it burnt up on
re-entry, and would make some people smile at the irony of it ;)

That was an interesting question, thank you.

For the sake of copmpleteness here is my answer: 

================================================================

There is no official figure for this, so here is my guesstimate, $8500.

My reasoning is as follows:

Assuming, the EU Constitution is 852 pages of A4 it will weigh 4.25kg.
 The cost per Kg to put something into space using the Soyuz launch
vehicle is $2000.  So the total cost will be about $8500.

See:

"The official finally numbered version of the EU Constitution plus
final text of the declarations and of the protocols - please note that
the unofficial renumbered version produced by Statewatch six weeks ago
got the numbers correct. The final size of the Constitution is 852
pages"
http://www.statewatch.org/euconstitution.htm

"this piece of information can be useful because each piece of the
most common office paper, A4, has a mass of 5 grams"
http://www.metricationmatters.com/mm-newsletter-2004-07.html

"We are all familiar with the cost of present-day space transport:
about $2,000 per kilo gram on the cheapest Russian boosters"
"Now the cheapest available ride is the Russian Soyuz vehicle"
http://www.space-frontier.org/cgi-bin/BBS/MoonBase/read/10022


My estimate for the weight of the constitution varies alot from yours,
so I am posting this to know whether you accept my guestimate for the
weight.

Thank you for your question and if you need any clarification of my
answer, do not hesitate to ask.

Very best regards

THX1138

Search strategy included:
eu constitution soyuz
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=eu+constitution+soyuz

Very well answered... fully agree with sentiments re. airlock!

But can we assume that it was a paper copy of the EU constitution?
The link at the end of the question led to an article, which said that
a copy was handed over. Perhaps it was a cd?

Hello again rai130,

Just a note to say thank you for the five stars and nice tip!

Very best regards.

THX1138


Hello amber00,
  
I doubt it's a CD,  it would be a bit like having to swear an oath on
a CD of the Bible in court.  Digitised versions of things always seem
to be a bit 'fake' and given the symbolism of the event I think it's
unlikely.

Anyway, if it is the full 852 paper version let's hope they don't
jettison it (if they have to) over Wales.  With all that bureaucratic
drivel inside it, it probably wouldn't have had time to burn up before
it crashed down on Glenys Kinnocks' Labour European Offices in Cardiff
;)

Very best regads

THX1138