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Pie in the Sky

A photo-montage showing the meat and potato-filled pie that was sent up to the edge of the Earth's atmosphere, using a weather balloon. Source: SentInSpace Meat and Potato Pie in the Sky

A meat and potato pie has been attached to a weather balloon, and sent “into space”… 

This “pie in the sky” is believed to be the first pie to be launched into the Earth’s stratospheric layer.  The ultimate aim of its journey 30 kilometres up (100,000 ft) into the atmosphere is to see if it changes the molecular structure of the pie, making it quicker to eat.

A photograph showing the space enthusiasts who sent the savoury pie on its tasty voyage from Wigan. Source: The Sun
Pie in the Sky?  A team of pie enthusiasts send a meat and potato-filled pastry into space this week. Photo: The Sun

Space pie enthusiasts from the Sheffield-based company SentIntoSpace have attached a camera and tracking equipment to the weather balloon, and they will analyse the data and edit the video of its journey… as you do.

The extreme delicacy was launched from Roby Mill in Wigan, at about 11:30 GMT ahead of the  2016 World Pie Eating Championships which will be held next week at Harry’s Bar, Wallgate in Wigan, on 20 December.

Bill Kenyon of Ultimate Purveyors from St Helens, who were commissioned to create the pie, said: “This is the first step to enable mankind to consume pies with more elegance and comfort.”

Neither the sky, nor the pie, should be the limit.

 

The pie in the sky and its structural integrity will be tested to the limits.  It will likely freeze on its ascent into the atmosphere, before being cooked thoroughly, as it reaches “massive speeds” on re-entry.

Altogether, a science news story that really goes to show that pie’s the limit…