Back in the year 2000, something quite unusual happened. A Russian rocket launched from Kazakhstan, carrying an important part of the International Space Station into orbit. But what caught everyone’s attention wasn’t just the mission itself—it was the large logo of a famous pizza chain on the side of the rocket. This was part of a unique advertising campaign where the company paid a lot of money for Russian astronauts to enjoy their pizza in space and to have their logo displayed on the rocket.
In our everyday lives, advertisements are everywhere—from sports events to movies and even on buses and trains. Anything that grabs a lot of attention is a prime spot for ads. For instance, the 2019 Super Bowl attracted 100 million viewers, with companies paying around 5 million dollars for just a 30-second commercial. Spaceflights also attract huge audiences; the first Moon landing in 1969 was watched by an incredible 600 million people, and millions tuned in online to watch the first Falcon Heavy test flight.
Despite this massive audience, we don’t see advertisements on rockets during these big space events. One reason is that NASA, which is a government agency, has strict rules that prevent astronauts and other employees from promoting products. For example, when NASA sends candy-coated chocolates to the Space Station, astronauts have to call them “candy-coated chocolates” instead of using the brand name.
The Science and Technology Institute once estimated that NASA could earn about 100 million dollars from sponsorships and advertising. However, in the grand scheme of space business, this amount isn’t very significant.
On the flip side, the Russian space program has been more open to advertising. A Russian astronaut once hit a golf ball into orbit as part of a sponsorship deal with a Canadian golf company. In 1996, Russian astronauts even took a giant beverage can into space to float outside the Mir Space Station for a commercial.
The pizza company had even bigger plans. In 2000, they thought about projecting their logo onto the Moon using powerful lasers. But after talking to scientists, they realized it would be nearly impossible and would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. So, they settled for putting their logo on a Russian Proton rocket instead.
Even though this was a bold move, rocket companies haven’t fully embraced sponsorships yet. However, with private companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab making space travel cheaper, this might change. As more people watch rocket launches online, we could start seeing sponsored designs on rockets, whether we like it or not.
While advertising hasn’t become a big part of space travel yet, who knows what the future holds? Let’s just hope that when humans finally step onto Mars, it won’t be sponsored by a fast-food chain!
Imagine you are a marketing executive tasked with designing an advertisement for a rocket. Think about what kind of product or service would be suitable for space advertising. Create a poster or digital design that includes the product, a catchy slogan, and an explanation of why this product is perfect for space. Share your design with the class and explain your choices.
Participate in a class debate on whether rockets should have advertisements. Divide into two groups: one supporting the idea and the other opposing it. Use points from the article to support your arguments, and consider the impact on science, business, and public perception. After the debate, discuss what you learned from both sides.
Research other unusual places where advertisements have appeared, such as on sports uniforms, in video games, or on public transportation. Prepare a short presentation on one example, explaining the effectiveness and public reaction to the advertisement. Compare these examples to the idea of advertising on rockets.
Design a logo for a fictional space mission. Consider what the mission aims to achieve and how the logo can represent its goals. Think about colors, symbols, and text that would make the logo memorable and meaningful. Present your logo to the class and explain your design choices.
Write a short essay exploring the ethical considerations of advertising in space. Consider questions such as: How might space advertising affect scientific missions? Should there be limits on what can be advertised in space? Discuss your thoughts with a partner and share your conclusions with the class.
In the year 2000, a Russian rocket launched from Kazakhstan carrying one of the first pieces of the International Space Station into orbit. Although this may look like a normal rocket launch, on the side of the rocket was a prominent logo from a well-known pizza chain. This was part of an advertising campaign where the company paid a significant amount for Russian cosmonauts to enjoy their pizza in space and to display their logo on the rocket.
But why don’t we see advertisements on the sides of rockets more often? In this video, we’re going to explore the unusual history of advertising in spaceflight. We’ll also discuss why it’s not common and how the future of low-cost rockets might change that.
In today’s world, advertisements are ubiquitous: from sporting events to movies and transportation. Anything that attracts a lot of attention also attracts advertising. For example, the 2019 Super Bowl was watched by 100 million people, making the price for a 30-second commercial around 5 million dollars. Spaceflight also has the potential for large audiences; the first Moon landing in 1969 was watched by a record-breaking 600 million people, and the first Falcon Heavy test flight garnered millions of views online.
Despite this global attention, advertisements have not been a part of these significant spaceflight events. NASA, being a government agency, has restrictive policies that prevent astronauts and other employees from endorsing products. Since the beginning of the Space Shuttle program, NASA has sent candy-coated chocolates to the Space Station for astronauts to enjoy. However, astronauts must refer to them as “candy-coated chocolates” instead of their brand name.
The Science and Technology Institute estimated that NASA could generate around 100 million dollars in revenue through sponsorship and advertising deals. However, this amount is relatively small in the context of space business.
On the other hand, the Russian space program has been more open to advertisements. A Russian cosmonaut famously hit a golf ball into orbit as part of a paid sponsorship for a Canadian golf company. In 1996, Russian cosmonauts took a large beverage can into space to float outside the Mir Space Station as part of a campaign to create the first commercial in space.
This was just a fraction of what the pizza company was planning. In 2000, they considered projecting their logo onto the surface of the Moon using high-powered lasers. After consulting with physicists, they realized that the immense power and precision required would be nearly impossible and would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to develop. Instead, they opted to display their new logo on the side of a Russian Proton rocket.
Aside from this ambitious campaign, rocket companies have yet to embrace sponsorships. However, with the emergence of private companies in the spaceflight industry, this could change. Companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab have significantly reduced the cost of launching rockets. As online viewership of these launches continues to grow, we may start to see sponsored designs appearing on rockets, whether we welcome it or not.
So, while advertising has not yet made its way into spaceflight, we can only hope that the first step onto Mars isn’t sponsored by a major brand.
Rocket – A vehicle designed to propel itself by ejecting exhaust gas from one end. – The rocket launched into the sky, carrying a satellite into space.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse that exists beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. – Scientists study space to understand more about the universe and our place in it.
Advertising – The act of promoting products or services, often seen in various media formats. – NASA uses advertising to raise public awareness about its latest space missions.
Astronauts – Trained individuals who travel into space to conduct experiments and explore the cosmos. – The astronauts aboard the International Space Station conduct research that benefits life on Earth.
NASA – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the United States’ civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. – NASA has been at the forefront of space exploration since its establishment in 1958.
Orbit – The curved path of an object around a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution. – The satellite was placed in orbit around the Earth to collect weather data.
Mission – A specific task or operation assigned to a person or group, often involving travel or exploration. – The Mars rover mission aims to search for signs of past life on the red planet.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. – Advances in technology have made it possible to explore deeper into space than ever before.
Program – A planned series of future events, items, or performances, often related to scientific research or exploration. – The space program includes several upcoming missions to study distant planets.
Future – The time yet to come, often considered in terms of potential developments or advancements. – In the future, scientists hope to send humans to Mars for exploration.
