March 31, 2005 - Star Wars toys to fly to the edge of space.
On April 9th, the droid R4-G9, a Wookiee Warrior and General Grievous will travel where no Star Wars toy has gone before: to the edge of space.
For this mission, these Star Wars action figures will trade in their spaceships for a balloon. This flight, called "Away 26," is a high altitude balloon research mission flown by JP Aerospace. It will be launched from the Black Rock desert in Nevada. The vehicle is a carbon fiber and foam diamond carried aloft by a single large helium -filled balloon. The balloon will reach a height of over 100,000 feet, nearly twenty miles high. Away 26 will test telemetry systems for high altitude airships and platforms.
R4-G9, Wookiee Warrior and General Grievous are from the "Sneak Preview" action figures for the upcoming "Star Wars: Episode III" movie.
Videos clips from previous JP Aerospace missions to the edge of space can be found online at www.jpaerospace.com.
Upon landing, the figures, 'droids and Wookiees alike, will be sold on eBay. The proceeds will go toward the PongSat student education program. The figures will experience temperatures of -90F, vacuum and speeds of over 600 mph on descent.
"It's a chance for the characters to stretch their legs before their debut in 'Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith,'" said John Powell, President of JP Aerospace.
In addition to the celebrities, this flight will carry 140 student experiments.
Away 26 is the eighty-sixth mission flown by JP Aerospace. JP Aerospace is a volunteer-based space program which builds and flies low-cost space systems.
Photos and videos are available at www.jpaerospace.com.
Away 26 Mission Details:
- Mission Type: Unmanned High Altitude Balloon
- Maximum altitude: 110,000 feet
- Vehicle weight 25 pounds
- Total Flight Time: Four hours
- Additional payload: 140 student experiments
- Flight systems include: Command control telemetry system, Dual GPS tracking, Live video downlink, digital still camera and environment measuring sensors.
R4-G9, Wookiee Warrior, General Grievous, Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith, and Star Wars are trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. Lucasfilm Ltd. is not affiliated with JP Aerospace.
