“Oh, my dear Earth, I have broken the sordid bonds of EarthAnd flown the skies on laughter-silvered wings.” John Gillespie Magee Jr., “High Flight” (1941).
Five Harvard friends used a weather balloon in 2012 to launch the first hamburger into orbit. As it floated 98,000 feet above Earth, the helium-filled weather balloon lifted from Sturbridge (Mass.). The package was found in a tree 130 miles away.
It was not the first object of its kind to be launched by space enthusiasts and it certainly wasn’t the last.
You can click through to see videos of some of Earth’s most mysterious objects.
British science enthusiasts Matt Kingsnorth, and Phil St. Pier launched a Star Wars X-Wing fighter at an altitude of approximately 100,000 feet under their Project Helium Tears.
Their YouTube video of ascent showed their true mission with a message directed at the director of Star Wars’ latest film, “Star Wars”.
“Hey J.J. Abrams! We would like to have 2 tickets for the VIP premiere of “The Force Awakens”. Normally, the answer is no. But we thought it would be interesting to try something different. We know that you enjoy practical effects and shooting in real places.
High-altitude weather balloons, or nearspace craft, can reach 90,000 to 100,000 feet before the balloon expands in the vacuum of suborbital altitudes.
FAA regulations require that air traffic control personnel in the vicinity of the launch must be notified. FAA regulations may also require permits for the payload’s size and weight.
This hobby is affordable, but you can get a balloon, parachute and helium, as well as a camera and GPS locating device (to track your package after it has returned to Earth), for only a few hundred bucks.
Home Instead Senior Care, a Virginia-based organization that supports home caregivers, sponsored a weather ballon launch in West Point, Ga. GoPro cameras captured the ascent of the bobblehead doll to 114,000 feet.
John Glenn, a former astronaut, never got to the White House. However, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama were elected president in 2012.
Last year, Walter White (the protagonist of “Breaking Bad”), reached new heights.
A miniature Robby, the Robot from the 1956 science-fiction film “Forbidden Planet”, visited the Earth’s upper atmosphere in 2010. It was captured by a GoPro camera. Later, the footage was used in GoPro advertising campaigns.
Snoopy was launched into space by students at Austintown Middle School, Ohio.
In 2011, a can of Natural Light beer launched. In 2011, a can of Natural Light beer was launched. The next year, Coors Light was launched with a thermometer. How cold was that beer? It was about -60 degrees F
Students from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, clearly too young to drink, sent a Coke can up in 2013.
Felga, a German label-making company, launched a potted plant as part of its advertising campaign.
How can you promote the new novel “Meatspace?” What about sending meat into space? The video shows a lamb chop being speared at Tayyabs in London, and then attached to a weather balloon. Begave by jovial music (example lyrics: “Meatspace!”). The lamp chop rises quickly above the Earth, where lamb chops belong.
Launched flag-waving figurines, Lego figures, and dolls signaling loyalty to France, Canada, and the U.K.
The balloon carried a slice Williamsburg Pizza and broadcast music from Anamanaguchi, a New York City band. This was to help track the package once it landed. The two-hour raw footage from the shoot was posted online. Footage was used in their music video for “Endless Fantasy,” and was included in their music video.
An iPad was one of the objects carried by weather balloons. It was also airlifted by a company that sells protective cases. Darwin Aerospace launched an iPhone.
The phone reached 90,000 feet and fell towards Pyramid Lake in Nevada.
Ron Fugelseth, his son’s favorite Thomas the Tank Engine character, launched Stanley in his video. He animated Stanley’s eyes with Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, and Photoshop.
A donut took one small step for pastries on April 9, 2015, and one huge leap for donutkind.
Although the space shuttle era may be over, it was not over for Raul Oaida from Romania, who launched a Lego Space Shuttle into orbit. Strings were a big help.
Candymaker Nestle sent a British Kit Kat bar into outer space.
Viral videos have attracted activists who want to spread their message far above the rest.
This 2012 video was made in support of Nasrin Sotoudeh (a human rights lawyer) who was on hunger strike in an Iranian prison.
California’s education activists urged “yes” votes for two propositions on the 2012 ballot.
Andrew Kovatch submitted a Doritos bag that was carried higher than the Earth in the Doritos 2012 “Crash the Super Bowl” commercial contest. Although the bag opened at high altitudes it contained chips once it had crunch-landed.
SpongeBob Square pants is carried into space, a fish out of water.
Stratodean, a.k.a. Stratodean sent a weather balloon aloft. U.K.’s Mark Ireland, Cassie Phelps and Rudolph were able to see Santa during a 2013 flight.
Making-of video:
