$10,000 per lb. to LEO is just a rough ratio taken from the launch vehicle cost and divided by the rocket's launch capacity. The actual $ per lb. cost varies from rocket to rocket and the $10,000 figure is just an average of all of the major launch vehicles. Ironically, it actually cost more per lb. if you launch a rocket with less than full lift capacity. In other words, it would still cost NASA virtually the same amount to launch the Shuttle with just 1 lb. of cargo as it would if it launched with a full 50,000 lbs. of cargo, so an individual astronaut's weight does not affect the cost of a launch.<br /><br />If you got approval from NASA to launch a small telescope to be mounted on the ISS, then because NASA is a governmental organization and not a for-profit company, then they would probably launch it and even mount it on the outside for free. If you couldn't get approval from NASA, but got approval from Rosaviacosmos to attach it to their side of the station, then you would probably end up having to pay a cool $500 K to $1 million to launch it on the next available Progress flight. This cost, however, does not include the development cost for the telescope or any other incurred cost, like the cost of the EVA that would be required to mount it.<br /><br />However, with a grant from a university and some major corporate sponsorship, you might be able to pull it off. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em>So, again we are defeated. This victory belongs to the farmers, not us.</em></p><p><strong>-Kambei Shimada from the movie Seven Samurai</strong></p> </div>