Choose the Path Forward

A formal $OVERVIEW-weighted vote on the next step for the Overview Effect Flight ("Send Frank to Space"). ~$172k has been raised or pledged and none of it has been spent. Token holders now decide between three paths.

The Proposal

After 30 days of post-fundraising carrier negotiation, we engaged 12 companies across the commercial space tourism industry and collected real quotes, draft contracts, flight profiles, and timelines. The findings below frame the decision. The community now chooses one of three paths: commit to a stratospheric balloon seat for Frank today, keep options open and continue fundraising toward two seats, or activate refunds.

Voting weight is your live $OVERVIEW balance. Your tokens never leave your wallet — only your voting power is recorded. You can change your vote at any time until the vote is closed.

At a Glance

Amount raised or pledged
~$172k
Fundable today
1 stratospheric seat for Frank, from multiple providers
Not fundable today
2 stratospheric seats (Frank + Candidate), or any suborbital seat outright
Funds status
None has been spent to date
Companies engaged
12 (6 stratospheric balloon, 4 suborbital, 2 orbital / other)
Key Findings from the Last 30 Days▾

1. We can pay for a seat for Frank today

Multiple stratospheric balloon providers have either sent a contract or verbally agreed on a price that fits within current funds. If the community decided today, "Pick a provider and book the seat for Frank," we could execute that decision.

2. We cannot pay for two seats outright

Our original commitment was to fly Frank plus a community-selected Candidate. With current funds, no single provider gives us two seats outright — neither stratospheric nor suborbital. Flying two seats would require either continued fundraising to close the gap, or a partnership or volume discount that brings the two-seat price into our budget.

3. No stratospheric balloon provider is operational yet

This is the most important caveat. Every stratospheric balloon company we spoke to is still in some stage of hardware development and testing. None have a regularly operating commercial crewed service today. Most project first crewed flights no earlier than next year; a few claim they can fly this year but do not yet have operational, human-tested hardware. Any decision here is a decision under genuine uncertainty.

4. We received a suborbital contract from Virgin Galactic, but cannot buy it outright

The terms are within reach but not within current funding: we have enough to pay the deposit today, but not enough to purchase the seat in full. Going down this path requires continuing to fundraise toward the balance.

5. Partnership conversations are still active

Several conversations go beyond a straight ticket purchase — joint marketing, discounts in exchange for a longer-term relationship, and other ways to work together. In particular, we are in the process of a deal with a stratospheric balloon company that could dramatically lower the cost and potentially let us fly two people. That conversation is in an early stage; it's on the table but not a concrete option to count on.

6. Beyond a traditional flight — alternative formats

While exploring orbital opportunities with Vast, one option that emerged is sending a "Frank White Avatar" to space rather than flying Frank in person. It does not involve Frank physically flying, and it is not the recommended path — we include it so the community knows it exists as a possibility.

A portion of what we received is under NDA — specific quoted prices, draft contract language, and some technical details are not shared publicly. Provider-by-provider scoring (within NDA limits) will be published as NDAs allow.

How Providers Are Evaluated▾

Crewed flight readiness

Tethered flights, uncrewed full-altitude, crewed test, repeated crewed

Regulatory standing

FAA / EASA / equivalent approvals; airspace clearances in flight country

Safety design

Redundant systems, abort modes, parachute / emergency descent, prior incident record

Funding runway

Will they still be operating in 12-24 months?

Schedule realism

Track record of quoted vs. delivered timelines

Contract terms

Deposit refundability, milestone structure, what happens if they don't fly

Total cost

Price for 1 seat and 2 seats vs. current and projected funds

No provider scores top-of-class on every axis today. The job of the diligence is to surface the trade-offs honestly, not to declare a winner.

What Happens to the Candidate Seat▾

The original campaign promised a community-selected Candidate flying alongside Frank, chosen through a four-round merit-based process culminating in a $vMOONEY quadratic vote. That process is not cancelled — its status depends on the path chosen:

  • Option A: the Candidate seat is deferred — either dropped or contingent on a second fundraise.
  • Option B: the Candidate seat remains an active goal.
  • Option C: the Candidate process is paused indefinitely.

Cast Your Vote

Select one of the three paths below and submit. Your full $OVERVIEW balance is pledged as voting weight — tokens stay in your wallet. You can change your vote at any time while the vote is open.

Your $OVERVIEW Balance

Connect wallet

Votes

Individual choices and the tally stay hidden until voting closes.18 voters so far, 7,998 $OVERVIEW of voting power committed.

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