LOHAN invites ENTIRE REG READERSHIP to New Mexico shindig

Our Kickstarter campaign to take the Low Orbit Helium Assisted Navigator (LOHAN) mission to Spaceport America in New Mexico is going tin-rattlingly well, but we still need a final drive to reach the target before we can start packing our bags.

We've got plenty of goodies on offer as rewards for backers, and as an extra incentive we've decided to invite all our supporters to a Stateside shindig in Las Cruces.

The idea popped up when a few local LOHAN fans got in touch to say they've like to come and see the launch of the Vulture 2 spaceplane and its fantastical flying truss, seen above with apprentice boffin Katarina. That's not practical, for safety reasons, but we thought such enthusiasm should be rewarded in some way.

So, anyone who backs us on Kickstarter will get a personal invite to a right royal New Mexico knees-up, date and location tba. Simple as that. You'll get to meet the LOHAN team, our plucky Playmonaut, and (subject to availability), our US allies from Edge Research Laboratory, without whose support we'd have no chance in getting off the ground over The Pond.

Obviously, the location isn't ideal for anyone not within striking distance of Las Cruces, but if you can't make it, why not flash the plastic anyway in the spirit of international solidarity and the advancement of stratospheric endeavour? ®

More from the lovely LOHAN:

• You can find full LOHAN coverage right here.
• If you're new to LOHAN, seek out our mission summary for enlightenment.
• There are photos our our magnificent Vulture 2 spaceplane here, and detailed structural plans here.
• For your further viewing pleasure, we have all our photographic material stored on Flickr.
• Our LOHAN and Paper Aircraft Released Into Space (PARIS) videos live on YouTube.
• We sometimes indulge in light consensual tweeting, as you can see here.