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7th Grader Launches Hello Kitty 17-Miles To Space

February 7, 2013 / balloon, hello kitty, i was going to raise baby chicks for the science fair one year but my teacher nixed the project because i'd already lost the class gerbil when it was my day to take it home, launching things into never never land, man why couldn't i have been that hello kitty doll?, science fair projects, space, sure why not, the final frontier, to infinity and beyoooooond, wheeeeeee!, your dad din't help you toooooo much with this project right?

hello-kitty-in-space.jpg

Now listen, I know what you're thinking: "WOW, NICE SHOT J.J. ABRAMS." But shockingly this isn't a scene from the new Star Trek movie, it's actually from one of the video cameras aboard 12-year old Lauren Rojas' "Hello Kitty to Outerspace" science fair project. Me? I made a baking soda and vinegar volcano and wrote an essay about how much cooler the world we be if dinosaurs still existed. I got a purple participation ribbon.

Lauren Rojas, a 12-year-old from Antioch, Calif., got the idea after seeing a television commercial in which a balloon was launched into the sky. She thought she could do the same with her Hello Kitty doll. She would test air pressure and temperature at high altitude for her school's science fair.


Lauren and her father mounted small video cameras on their rocket-shaped gondola to record Hello Kitty's journey. The balloon reached an altitude of 93,625 feet (17.73 miles), Rojas said. There, the air was so thin that the balloon burst, sending Hello Kitty from the sky. It landed in a tree 47 miles from the launch sight, according to Rojas.

Man, now I kinda want to shoot something into space. Forget Hello Kitty though, I want to go there MYSELF. If somebody seriously told me right now they could launch me into space I'd do whatever they said, no questions asked. "Rob a bank?" Just give me the pantyhose.

Hit the jump for the video.

Thanks to le beeps, who told me she'd act as copilot if I ever manage to score a rocketship which is great news because the flightpath I made to the moon went straight through the sun.

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There are Comments
  • thatcando

    i think it's really nice of her letting daddy accompany her..

  • BeefSupreme

    meanwhile in related news, Iran gets over its initial rage and sends agents out to recover this advanced technology.

  • If there is one thing that should be shot into space (and left there) it's Hello Kitty.

  • good news: this stunt didnt create more space junk
    bad news: it did create more good ol' ordinary junk

  • Matt

    17 miles ≠ space

  • Up Yours

    BUH-UH-HULL-SHHHIT. The line "Lauren and her father mounted small video cameras...", should be changed to "Lauren thought about ponies and facebook when she wasn't texting (OMGLOLBBQ!!!!1!1!) as her Dad worked on the project that he thought of, designed and and would later try and pass off as the plans of an exceptional 12 year old."

  • Closet Nerd

    That kitty is so high
    ..... just sayin

  • dougfunnay

    i somehow doubt that 12 year old had the technical prowess or finances to send hello kitty 17 miles up. story should read "wealthy parent with too much time buys daughters way through life"

    (not saying it wasnt a good learning experience or anything just unfair to the rest of the kids in the class who are unable to compete at that level due to finances rather than intellect)

  • J O

    Guess you missed this one from last year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

  • 12 years old? Suddenly feeling inadequate in all I've achieved in my 37 years. Way to go kid! Best of luck in your future.

  • jimmy

    the father clearly did most of the work...

  • Be happyman

    Well excluding the multicam set-up they were using you could do it yourself for less than $200

  • the class who are unable to compete at that level due to finances rather than intellect... http://www.kingprofit76dollarp...

  • Megan Sherman

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH I'm feeling the exact same way............. Time to become a genius!

  • BillGatesIsYourDaddy

    meh....should have used a real cat

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