Most days, the absurdity of our economic system can just float on by me. Other days, we’re fighting with our congressmen about whether we’ve got the money to take care of kids with cancer, but a fast food restaurant has the funds to send a spicy chicken sandwich to space.
Specifically, KFC sent their Zinger sandwich (Christ, this is why they did it, isn’t it? So I would write about whatever a Zinger is?) into the stratosphere, approximately 60,000 to 80,000 feet above the surface of the Earth. (So, technically, not quite space.) They launched their little astronaut in a bucket-shaped satellite, which comes equipped with a flag-waving mechanical arm and a golden cassette of Colonel Sanders talking about chicken.
Readers, I know KFC has been on a weirdness kick recently, but this isn’t just a whack-a-doodle commercial. This is a genuinely ridiculous stunt that, apparently, actually happened. KFC partnered with World View Enterprises, a private space balloon company that “specializes in high-altitude balloons and near-space exploration.” World View helped KFC to pack and launch its sandwich on a high-altitude balloon known as the Stratollite. As KFC explained on their website, “unlike most high-altitude balloons, Stratollites are unique in their ability to remain in the stratosphere for long periods of time and to fly a variety of trajectories.”
The whole system (chicken sandwich included) weighed about 2,000 pounds. It ascended into space at a speed of approximately 1,000 feet per minute, and returned to Earth at a speed of approximately 2,000 feet per minute.
Fear not for the intrepid sandwich, readers. Following a few days in orbit, it has safely returned to Earth, according to the KFC Twitter account.
The chicken has landed. Welcome home, brave #spacesandwich. You’re just in time for sparklers. #IndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/iDoKqmKPef
— KFC (@kfc) July 3, 2017
However, it will not be eaten, since it was treated with polyurethane and Freshin to keep it looking young and fresh on its journey.
(Via SyfyWire, The Atlantic, and KFC; image via screengrab)
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