KFC chicken sandwich launched into the stratosphere with world view's stratollite system

update: after 17 hours of the four day mission, the KFC bucket stratollite has landed back on earth. it was announced that the mission had to be prematurely aborted because of a a small leak that was detected in its altitude control balloon system.

fried chicken met space travel last week when KFC launched their signature chicken sandwich into the stratosphere from the desert plains of arizona. carried by a giant balloon and live-streamed to hungry facebook viewers, the unlikely pairing between KFC and world view enterprises (the high-altitude balloon company) is an unexpected collaboration to test out world view’s new vehicle: the stratollite, with the KFC zinger sandwich acting as crew.

image © KFC 

titled the ‘zinger 1 space mission’ the stratollite vehicle is shaped like KFC bucket, becoming the first bucket-shaped satellite to be launched into space. using an on-board solar power system, if this four day trial is successful, this regenerative power technique will allow the stratollite ultimately fly for months at a time without interruption. KFC and curious viewers will be able to keep up to date with its expected four-day flight where it will stay between 60,000 – 80,000 feet above earth. the company is expected to beam back photos of the sandwich during its flight in the stratosphere. digestive systems are go!

image © KFC

image © KFC