Space missions usually bring to mind satellites, high-tech gear, and serious science. But not everything weโve launched into the void fits that mold. Sometimes, the cargo is just plain strange.
From fast food flying through the atmosphere to tributes to pop culture, space has hosted more weird objects than youโd expect. And no, this isnโt science fictionโitโs all real.
Here are 10 of the weirdest things ever launched into space. These arenโt just fun facts, theyโre reminders that even in the most advanced field on Earth, humans still love to keep things weird.
1. A Tesla Roadster
Yes, an actual car is floating around the sun.
In 2018, Elon Muskโs SpaceX launched a cherry red Tesla Roadster into space. It even had a mannequin named Starman in the driverโs seat.
Why? Just to show off SpaceXโs Falcon Heavy rocket.
The car is still out there, silently orbiting the sunโand it might stay that way for millions of years.
2. A Hamburger
The video is 12 Years old, but it’s still worth a watch!
Not a fake one. A real, greasy, fast-food burger.
A YouTuber in the UK tied a burger to a balloon and sent it into the upper atmosphere. It froze. It came back down. Then someone ate it.
Not exactly space-grade food, but definitely unforgettable.
3. A Wheel of Cheese
NASA sent a giant wheel of Le Brouรจre cheese aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule in 2010.
No, it wasnโt part of the menu.
It was a tribute to a Monty Python sketch. Engineers even kept it secret until after the launch.
Science and snacks? Why not both?
4. A Lightsaber
A real movie prop used by Mark Hamill in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was launched into space by NASA.
They did it in 2007 to honor the 30th anniversary of Star Wars. There isn’t much footage, as obviously technology wasn’t like it is now, so images will have to do and for more information, we highly recommend heading over to: Collect Space (They have some of the best space stories you will find online_
It orbited Earth aboard the space shuttle Discovery, officially becoming a Jedi-approved artifact.
5. Salmonella
NASA once launched salmonella bacteria into space.
Turns out, it became more dangerous in microgravity.
Why would they do this? To study how space affects disease.
Space: where even your bacteria level up.
6. A Tardigrade Army
Tardigrades are microscopic animals that can survive anything, even space.
Scientists sent thousands of them into space. Many came back alive.
So yes, space bears are real. And they might be tougher than astronauts.
7. Human Ashes
You can literally become space dust.
Some companies send peopleโs ashes into orbit as a memorial.
Famous names like Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek) and James Doohan (Scotty) are now space travelers.
Talk about going out in style.
8. A LEGO Space Shuttle
A teenager from Romania built a LEGO shuttle, tied it to a balloon, and sent it into the upper atmosphere.
The video went viral, but we are still surprised how this video didn’t get even more views! Hopefully, we here at StayWeird can help a bit with that.
LEGO: not just for bedrooms anymore.
9. An iPhone
NASA sent an iPhone 4 into space for an experiment.
The app tested how well a phone could work in orbit. It actually performed pretty well.
Apple: now with zero gravity support.
10. A Golden Record
Launched aboard the Voyager probes in 1977, this record includes music, greetings in 55 languages, and sounds from Earth.
Just in case aliens want a mixtape.
It’s still out there, drifting farther from Earth every second.
If you enjoyed reading this article, we recommend reading: Weird and Random Facts About the Moon: A Lunar Adventure. Uncover some of the Moonโs most bizarre secrets.
Bonus Fact: Pee Turns Into Shooting Stars
Astronauts sometimes have to dump waste fluids in space.
When sunlight hits frozen pee particles, they scatter and shine like tiny meteors.
Next time you see a shooting starโฆ well, now you know.
Space is one of the most advanced frontiers weโve ever explored.
But that doesnโt mean we take ourselves too seriously.
From cheese wheels and movie props to floating bacteria and ashes, the things we launch say a lot about us.
Weโre curious. Weโre a little weird. And sometimes, we just want to see what happens when we shoot a hamburger into orbit.
Which of these space objects would you add to your bucket list of strange facts?
Or better yetโif you had one shot to launch something into space, what would it be?
Sources
- NASA History Division: www.nasa.gov
- SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Archive: www.spacex.com
- ESA Tardigrade Studies: www.esa.int
- Voyager Golden Record Info: voyager.jpl.nasa.gov
- Star Wars Lightsaber Launch Coverage: www.nasa.gov
Kate is a creative soul with a knack for entertaining people with random facts and historical tidbits. Whether sheโs diving into history books, painting vibrant canvases in her free time, or crafting engaging stories, Kateโs passion for creativity and knowledge shines through.
She loves turning the ordinary into something extraordinary and believes thereโs always a fascinating story waiting to be told. When sheโs not busy exploring the past or wielding a paintbrush, youโll find her sharing her latest discoveries with anyone whoโll listen.
