PROJECT
SPACE PLANES
Send a message in a paper plane, from space!
We'll be keeping you up to date with project announcements both here and on !
Keep them coming…
Firstly, thank you to everyone who has uploaded a submission. We have had loads of great pictures, photos, films and letters. We are going to keep it open for a couple more days so if you have a message that you want to go to out of space and then land somewhere random send it in. Click the upload button (down there on the left) and wait, who knows who will find your message!!
Hooray, the test launch was a great success. The balloon performed perfectly thanks to Rob, Steve’s rig released the planes at exactly the right altitude and Andy’s planes stood up well to the weather. Everything is looking very positive for the launch day so wish us luck!
So we had a very exciting weekend… Look what we got up to! It was a gorgeous morning but a very early start, the team battled on to test out all of the equipment, fuelled mainly by sausage sandwiches and tea. Meet our team and wait for the next update when we will be able to show you the test launch!
We’ve been trying to simulate the effects of space on the equipment as much as possible throughout this testing stage and this is how… by creating a vacuum using an air conditioning pump! The cards, rig and cameras are performing really well, as you can see from this little film.
Look at this video! Luke Geissbuhler has been launching meteorological balloons over in Brooklyn, USA and filming the action. Check out his website at www.brooklynspaceprogram.org. We’re hoping that we can get some footage as good as this on our launch so that we can watch the paper planes floating back down to earth. Any other high altitude balloon enthusiasts out there?
(Source: )
Who’s Building Our Launcher?
Steve Randall is a reclusive genius from the dark heart of the English countryside (Suffolk). He’s spent much of the last decade locked away in a shed at the bottom of his garden, constructing elaborate space craft.
We’ve roped him in to building the special rig that will launch our paper planes (and carry the cameras that film it).
Definitely think we’ve got the right man for the job!
Quick, get your messages in!
The deadline for submitting your space plane message is fast approaching! We already have hundreds of submissions but on Friday, we won’t be taking any more so make sure that you get your message in before then. Click the upload button (down there on the left) and send us a picture of yourself, a message from you or even a short video saying hi. If you’re feeling really adventurous, why not do all three?
Steve Randall, our man in charge of payload construction and environmental testing, has been working away on a design for the release mechanism that will allow the planes to fall to earth. After days of tests and scorched ceilings, here is the final version of the mechanism. The pyrotechnic release will be attached to an altimeter, giving us full control of when these little babies are going to drop. Still no control over where they’re going to land though…
We’ve finally decided on the space plane design to end all space plane designs! This is the plane that Andy Chipling, our resident paper plane expert, has built to withstand the rigours of space.
Looking pretty good right? We’re building it using paper which is 100% waterproof and durable. We’ll print designs onto the planes (coming soon) so that you can easily spot them. Do your worst, intergalactic weather patterns….Our friend Henry has made possibly the coolest message video ever!