As if we didn’t have enough ads between IPL overs and elevator screens, brands now want to follow you to space. Yes, really.
Once upon a time, only astronauts went to space. Then came billionaires.
And now? Your favourite chicken nugget brand.
Welcome to 2025 — where space is no longer just the final frontier, it’s the final placement.
From Shatabdi Express to the Stratosphere
We used to be impressed when brands slapped their logos on metro trains. Then came autorickshaws with LED screens. Now? They want to orbit Earth.
Tesla launched a Roadster into space. Estée Lauder sent 10 bottles of serum up for a space photoshoot.
And now, there’s talk of floating billboards above your head, gently whispering “Buy now.”
(Imagine doing Chandrayaan 3-level research only to zoom in on a space selfie sponsored by ghee.)
What’s Going On?
- StartRocket, a Russian startup, wants to launch glowing space ads using satellites.
- Sent Into Space, a UK firm, sends pizzas, polaroids, and influencer campaigns to near space using balloons (no junk, promise).
- NASA? Apparently taking skincare requests. Estée Lauder paid them ₹1 crore+ to fly serum bottles for a sunset shoot.
Let that sink in:
A brand once fought over a Times Square LED slot.
Now they’re fighting over stratospheric lighting.
Why Space?
Let’s be honest — we’ve run out of Earth real estate.
We’ve exhausted hoardings, reels, shorts, elevator panels, and mall urinals.
Now marketers need:
- Bigger reach
- Bolder stunts
- And a desperate distraction from their Q2 numbers
Add a hint of cosmic curiosity + PR thirst and voilà: space marketing.
But Wait, Who’s Cleaning This Up?
The scientific community is, understandably, not amused.
- Astronomers are freaking out over the idea of glowing ads blocking their telescopes.
- There are legit fears of space junk clogging orbits and ruining satellite paths.
- The Outer Space Treaty (1966) says countries must avoid “harmful interference.”
So… does that include a glowing 2-minute Maggi banner floating past the moon?
One U.S. law even bans “obtrusive” space ads — but let’s be real: definitions vary when profits are involved.
ROI in Outer Orbit?
StartRocket’s founder says it’s all about:
- Cost-per-thousand-impressions (yes, like Earth ads but… in space)
- Viral buzz + memes
- Word-of-mouth storytelling
Translation:
Even if no one sees your ad in the sky, you’ll see it trending on Instagram.
And that, friends, is modern marketing ROI.
Pizza in Space. Chicken Nuggets, Too.
Meanwhile, Sent Into Space is doing the soft-launch version of space ads:
- No glowing billboards
- No rockets
- Just high-altitude balloons
- And a chicken nugget floating in the stratosphere, surrounded by clouds, becoming the moment
No mess. No space junk. Just creative stunts, influencer collabs, and brands showing they have range.
Their biggest flex? “We leave no trace — except on your Instagram explore tab.”
So… What About India?
Let’s not kid ourselves. India’s marketers are watching closely.
We’ve got:
- A booming space program
- Jugadu PR teams
- And influencers who’d absolutely pose mid-liftoff if sponsored
Picture this:
“Biryani. But make it zero gravity.”
Coming soon to a satellite near you.
Whether ISRO will allow it is another matter entirely.
Final Thought: Why Are We Like This?
Space was once sacred. Mysterious. A place for discovery and dreams.
Now, it’s on the mood board for your next pitch deck.
- Is this the future of brand storytelling?
- Or the last resort of ad-weary consumers?
- Are we inspiring joy or just blocking starlight?
Honestly, who knows?
But if a glowing Gulab Jamun ad ever floats past Orion’s Belt, just remember:
We did this to ourselves.
Sources
- Houston, Amy. “Advertising in Space: One Giant Leap for Adland?”
The Drum, April 14, 2025
https://www.campaignasia.com - Sent Into Space: https://www.sentintospace.com
- Estée Lauder x NASA Serum Campaign, 2020
- Tesla Roadster launch, 2018
- Outer Space Treaty, 1966 (still applies, shockingly)