We just received word that on October 17th, two brothers from North Texas launched a weather balloon that passed through the stratosphere while carrying a payload that included a Captain Kirk figure. The project was meant to celebrate the importance of libraries in our communities and the Trek stars that attended the Star Trek Fan Days in Plano, TX. Along with the Captain Kirk action figure, 3 library cards, miniature model of the Enterprise, and Doc Brown action figure, the small foam capsule carried a lightweight camera that documented the entire flight. Check out a link to the video below for some truly astounding photos.

Watch The Video

Official Press Release

On October 17, 2010 the Brothers Gromm released a small weather balloon from the outskirts of Stephenville, Texas. It carried a lightweight 1 lb 15 ounce foam capsule designed to take photographs from approximately 20 miles above the surface of the earth. The capsule carried a camera, a GPS locator, souvenirs to celebrate the importance of libraries in our communities, and souvenirs to celebrate the actors attending the Star Trek Fan Days convention at the Plano Center in Plano, Texas the weekend of October 23-24.

The capsule rose approximately 20 miles through the stratosphere over Granbury and was recovered approximately 3 hours later in a field in Crowley. The project was a spectacular success, and produced hundreds of striking photos.

The space-borne souvenirs included:

2 Action Figures: One of William Shatner and one of Christopher Lloyd
1 miniature model of the Enterprise
3 library cards - Fort Worth Southwest Regional Public Library; Fort Worth Shamblee Public Library; and the Mansfield Public Library

Check out the official website here.