Sent Into Space is an English aerospace company that launches experimental payloads to near space using weather balloons, for research, aerospace testing, marketing or publicity purposes. As the world's first "aerospace creative agency", Sent Into Space has launched more than 1,000 flights into the upper stratosphere since its formation in 2011.[2]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, marketing |
| Founded | 18 July 2011[1] |
| Founders | Chris Rose Alex Baker |
| Headquarters | Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
| Website | www |
History
editThe company was founded in 2011 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, by Chris Rose and Alex Baker.[3] The two met at the University of Sheffield, where they were pursuing doctorates in mechanical engineering. The two were having a conversation at a pub when they thought it would be interesting to attach a camera to a weather balloon that was launched up to space. After six months of experimenting, they launched the balloon on 17 December 2010, from Rose's backyard.[4] They uploaded a video of their process and photos the camera took to YouTube, which went viral.[5] Many companies and individuals saw this video and requested for the duo to launch their own items to space, and they started a company offering balloon launches as a professional service.[6]
Services
editSent Into Space has been used for publicity stunts, cinematography, scientific research, aerospace research, and education. It has been certified by the Civil Aviation Authority.[6][7] The company also provides its services to scientists desiring to research the atmosphere. In one mission, the craft designed to take samples of atmospheric particles discovered the presence of biological matter — a diatom — much higher than previously believed possible.[3]
The company uses balloons made from biodegradable, undyed latex. They also use hydrogen as a lifting gas instead of helium as it is a renewable resource. The balloons reach 38 km (24 mi) on average, taking a few hours to reach that height. The air pressure this high causes the balloon to keep expanding, reaching 10 m (33 ft) from an original 2 m (6.6 ft) until it bursts. Then, a parachute is deployed and the craft takes about an hour to reach the ground. Sent Into Space has a software that predicts where it will land.[8]
Scattering of cremated remains in space
editAura Flights, formerly Ascension Flights, is an offshoot of the company exclusively for scattering ashes in the atmosphere.[9] It was launched in 2017 after the technology was first developed in 2015. It appeared on the television programme Dragons' Den, but rejected an offer from Deborah Meaden.[10][11]
List of objects sent into space
editThis is a select list of the 1,000+ objects the company has sent into space for notable clients.[6]
| Object | Client | Date | Motive | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vintage Sony Television | Kelvin Jones | 24 August 2015 | Footage for a music video | [12][13] | |
| Meat and potato pie | World Pie Eating Championship | 15 December 2016 | Promotion of the event | First pie launched into space | [14][15][16] |
| 6 cameras set up to be omnidirectional | BBC Earth | 21 August 2017 | Capture the Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 from space | Launched from Fort Laramie, Wyoming, flight data helped in research of stratospheric gravity waves | [17][18] |
| CRT TV | BRAC | 5 September 2018 | Broadcasting the words of victims of the Rohingya genocide | Launched from Bogra, Bangladesh | [19][20] |
| Model of Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith's ship | Adult Swim | 24 June 2021 | Footage for the opening of the fifth season of Rick and Morty | First premiere in space | [21][22] |
| Heinz Marz ketchup | Heinz Tomato Ketchup | 8 November 2021 | Celebration of launch of special edition Marz ketchup | [23][24] | |
| Polaroid picture | Logan Paul | 24 July 2022 | Promotion of Paul's NFT project | [25][26] | |
| Model of Greg Davies' head | Ed Gamble | 27 July 2022 | To complete a challenge of Taskmaster: Champion of Champions II where Gamble must do something that "makes everyone go 'wow, that really is the greatest thing'" | [27][28] | |
| Cricket World Cup Trophy | International Cricket Council | 27 June 2023 | As part of a "trophy tour" before the 2023 Cricket World Cup | [29][30][31] | |
| Disco ball microphone | Seventeen | 10 October 2023 | Footage for the music video for "God of Music" | [32][33] | |
References
edit- ^ "Sent Into Space LTD overview". Companies House. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Enjoy the high life with 10 aviation experts". The Times & The Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ a b Whiteside, Steph (12 February 2024). "A chicken nugget in space? One company sends objects into orbit". NewsNation. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Lagatta, Eric (13 April 2024). "From Stanley cups to Samsung phones, this duo launches almost anything into space. Here's why". USA Today. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Students film Earth from stratosphere". BBC News. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ a b c "Official website". Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Company Sending Objects into Space". YouTube. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Heaven, Douglas (11 September 2013). "Low-budget way to send your stuff into space". New Scientist. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Bryan, Jack (11 March 2020). "Sent Into Space". Colorado Mesa University. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Cumber, Robert (26 April 2023). "Aura Flights: The Sheffield company launching people's ashes into space for an out-of-this world send-off". The Star. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Sky High Memorials" (PDF). National Association of Funeral Directors. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: Sony Music Group". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Connecting out into space with Kelvin Jones". Stimulate Your Soul. 18 September 2015. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: Harry's Bar". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Meat and potato pie 'sent into space' from Wigan". BBC News. 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Bunyan, Nigel (16 December 2016). "Falling shortcrust: Wigan space mission proves to be pie in the sky". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: BBC". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "A 360 view of a solar eclipse from space". BBC Earth. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: BRAC". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Space On Earth by BRAC - Can we find land that Rohingya refugees can call home?". Campaigns of the World. 9 September 2018. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: Adult Swim". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Rick and Morty | Space Launch | Adult Swim UK 🇬🇧". YouTube. 24 June 2021. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: Heinz". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Liang, Sherry (8 November 2021). "New Heinz Marz Edition ketchup has implications that go far beyond flavor". CNN. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: Logan Paul". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Paul, Logan (24 July 2022). "I Sent A $40,000 Polaroid Into Space". YouTube. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: Taskmaster". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Ed Gamble Sends Greg Davies' HEAD To SPACE! | Taskmaster Champion Of Champions | Channel 4". YouTube. 27 July 2022. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: International Cricket Council". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "'Out of this world': In a first, ODI World Cup trophy tours space". The Times of India. 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Out of this world: ICC World Cup trophy sent to space". The Hindu. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Case Study: SL8 x Seventeen". Sent Into Space. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Sent Into Space Partners Up with K-pop group SEVENTEEN to Send a Microphone to Space". WGN-TV. 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.