Member Article

Karol Marketing work on first Space Camping launch

The Karol Marketing team have been involved in a rather unusual and exciting project of late, working with our client Vango to launch the first tent into space…

In June 1944, the first rocket reached space. April 2001 saw the first human space tourist orbit the Earth for 7 days. It’s 2012 and Space Tourism is well and truly taking off and now, thanks to our client, leading British camping brand Vango,it is to become accessible for all. Fancy a holiday in space? Behold ‘Space Camping’.

Vango made history this May by launching one of their new and revolutionary pole free, inflatableVango AirBeam®tents into space. The test flight was a success and the brand are about to turn the idea of Space Tourism completely upside down.

VIEW VANGO SPACE CAMPING LAUNCH HERE

Pioneering the new concept, Vango successfully reached heights of 104,000ft with aVango AirBeam® Fluxtent from a base camp location in the Scottish Highlands. Piloted by a four-strong VASA (Vango Association of Space Accommodation) Mission Team, the video footage shows the trip from blast off through to a text book touchdown and the moment they can (probably) claim to have reached heights no tent has ever reached before.

After a successful launch, theVango AirBeam® Fluxtent took to the skies in light winds and headed South East. Once caught in the jet stream, the tent then headed towards North East and peaked at a height of 31.5km, reaching the stratosphere, before docking safely at a remote landing site 70 miles away from base camp.

The project itself was launched with the intention to democratise Space Tourism. Currently, a seat on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic spacecraft service costs around $200,000, with a $20,000 down payment. Now, thanks to Vango Airbeam® Space Tourism will soon be available to those from all walks of life - and at a fraction of the cost - ensuring future family holidays really can be out of this world.

Gary Craig, VASA project director, said: “Camping has always been an egalitarian means to venture, explore and enjoy the great outdoors. Outer space should be no exception. Project Space Camping will change the face of camping holidays and give everybody who wants to a chance to take off and be part of something incredible. We want space to be accessible to all, and what better way to see the world than through a Vango AirBeam®tent window”.

Herman Vortex, VASA primary engineer, said: “After 15 long years in development, ourVango AirBeam® Fluxwith its innovative design and inflatable poles was able to maintain its rigidity throughout a turbulent ascent and re-entry. I think I speak for the whole VASA team when I say how pleased we are that this mission has been a success. Space Camping is certainly about to take off.”

All being well, VASA plan to land the first space campers on the moon before the decade’s out. And the Karol Marketing team hope to be there!

For more information on Vango and the Vango Airbeam® Space Camping mission, please visit www.spacecamping.org

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Stefan Lepkowski .