KFC says it’s launching a burger into space, but there’s just one problem
KFC is set to launch a zinger burger into space in a bizarre promotional stunt. But there’s just one problem with the mission.
YOU know we’re living in an age of wonder when fast food companies are sending chicken burgers into space.
According to KFC, that’s exactly what it’s doing. In one of the more unusual promotional stunts in recent memory, the fast food outlet is sending its new Zinger burger “straight up into space”.
“Yes, space. For real. We’re actually doing this,” the company’s promotional website says.
But there’s just one problem with Colonel Sander’s mission to the final frontier — it won’t technically get anywhere near space.
KFC will launch a weather balloon to carry its deep fried cargo to about 80,000 feet (24.3 kilometres) above sea level. That is certainly a long way up for a burger but it’s only about one fourth of the way to what is generally considered the border where space begins.
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The definition of where Earth’s atmosphere ends and space begins is still not entirely decided by the international community. But it’s generally considered to be what’s known as the Karman line which marks the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere and the beginning of outer space.
The Karman line lies at an altitude of 100 kilometres above Earth’s sea level, far out of reach of the Zinger mission set to launch next week
This technicality was helpfully pointed out by the unofficial NASA Watch on Twitter.
That means that @KFC's chicken sandwich is not going anywhere near "space" - despite what their misleading advertising says #spacesandwich https://t.co/Z95nQKCx3D
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) June 13, 2017
Although KFC doesn't seem to mind about the distinction.
And it’ll be the most delicious 23km of them all.
— KFC (@kfc) June 13, 2017
KFC is partnering with balloon maker World View on the project. The chain says the launch window opens June 21 for what it says is the longest controlled stratospheric balloon flight with a commercial payload in history. The sandwich will return to earth and bring back telemetry data, according to the Associated Press.
If KFC actually wants to send fried chicken all the way into outer space, it’ll probably need to get a rocket first.
Although presumably the goal of next week’s “Zinger 1 Space Mission” is to get a whole bunch of publicity for its new burger. In which case, mission accomplished.
My dad is talking about KFC sending a chicken sandwich into space like it's the only important thing that's going on in the world rn (it is)
— Madi Krizan (@MadiKrizan) June 13, 2017
