Indian startup launches a car bonnet 21 km above Earth on a balloon

In 2018, Elon Musk sent his car away to space aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy during its maiden flight. Now, an Indian startup has done something similar.

A Chennai-based aerospace startup has sent a miniature car bonnet covered in paint protection film (PPF) to the edge of space, exposing it to extreme cold, low pressure and intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation in a two-hour flight.

Aerolaunch India's HAB0226 mission, launched from Krishnasamy College of Arts and Science in Cuddalore on November 1, carried the bonnet to a peak altitude of 21 km, marking the 20th anniversary of automotive detailing brand CarzSpa. A technician attached the miniature car bonnet to the balloon bound for space. (Photo: Aerolaunch India)

The payload experienced temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius before descending and landing at Melkangayan Kuppam, around 30 km from the launch site, and was later recovered by Aerolaunch's team.

CarzSpa said its Aegis XG series paint protection film showed no visible changes to its coating after the flight.WHAT HAPPENS TO A CAR'S PPF IN NEAR SPACE?

The mission put the film through environmental conditions far harsher than those encountered during regular driving.

At an altitude of 21 km, the atmosphere is much thinner than at ground level, temperatures drop sharply and UV exposure increases. A photo shows the miniature bonnet suspended in space. (Photo: Aerolaunch India) The miniature bonnet was carried inside a specially designed payload built from scratch by Aerolaunch India. The structure used lightweight expanded polystyrene for insulation, carbon fibre pipes for strength and custom-made components designed to withstand cold and UV exposure.

The flight was captured in 5.7K resolution using a 360-degree camera, recording the bonnet against the sky and cloud layers.

"Twenty years ago, we set out to make every car look new again. For our 20th anniversary, we wanted to show what our Aegis XG film is made of," CarzSpa spokesperson said. "Seeing it travel to near space with Aerolaunch India is a proud moment for everyone at CarzSpa, and for the 2.5 million car owners who have trusted us with their paint."BALLOON CARRIES EQUIPMENT TO NEAR-SPACE

HAB0226 also carried a UV data logger developed by STAR (Space Technology and Aeronautical Rocketry), an aerospace startup based in Surat, Gujarat.

The instrument recorded UV intensity throughout the flight, collecting data on radiation levels at different altitudes. A picture of the team behind the successful mission. (Photo: Aerolaunch India)

Aerolaunch India, founded in 2021 by HemPrasath and Shree Ranganathan, specialises in high-altitude balloon missions. Its platform can fly up to 35 km, depending on the requirements of a mission.

“Our early missions were mostly about providing the platform. HAB0226 shows how far we have come. Nearly five years of R&D have taught us how to design a payload around a missionm," the founders said. "We are now flying brand missions with their own purpose-built payloads, alongside partner instruments like a UV data logger, and delivering footage, data and recovery on a single flight. CarzSpa’s 20th anniversary was the right mission to show that.”- Ends