Insert Coin: Planetary Resources ARKYD space telescope will take your selfies from space in 2015

We've seen the Arkyd 100 telescope before, Planetary Resources' impressively small asteroid-hunting machine that offers performance matching any on-earth scope (yes, even the really big ones on the tops of mountains) in a package that's about the size of a quarter keg of beer. Its length of 425mm fully deployed (16.7 inches) is absolutely dwarfed by Earth's current great orbital scope: the Hubble Space Telescope, which is 13.2 meters (or 43 feet) long. The space shuttle cargo bay could carry a single Hubble into orbit. If it were still operating, it could take a thousand Arkyd 100 scopes in a single shot.

But, of course, it isn't still operating, which is perhaps partly why Planetary Resources is looking for $1 million in earthly support. The extra-orbital mining company has turned to Kickstarter to raise a little early funding and to help get its first fully functional Arkyd 100 scope into orbit. If you jump in early, you can get your face in orbit too -- well, a picture of it anyway. More details after the break.

Planetary Resources ARKYD

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To be clear, it's an Arkyd 100 telescope named ARKYD for the moment (and yes, that is a Star Wars reference), but a Planetary Resources rep told us that the name would be changed to something chosen by the community before it lifts off sometime in 2015. Those who support the campaign at the $25 level will have the opportunity to get a "space selfie" courtesy of a small LCD on the side of the telescope with a camera pointing at it. The LCD will display your picture (or some other image you upload); the camera will take a photo of it with the globe behind; and ARKYD will email it to you so that you can prove to your friends that your earthly visage has, indeed, graced the heavens.

Higher pledges will let you actually schedule time on the scope for your own research -- or your own fun. Meanwhile, those who are philanthropically inclined can donate time for use by schools or other programs. The Kickstarter launches today and runs until June 30th. The PR is embedded below and you can read our full interview with co-founder Peter Diamandis about the launch for more information, but we'd recommend you hurry up and make your pledge before you crack that open. We wouldn't want you waiting any longer than necessary for your space selfie.