Advertising Opportunities
One of the ways the Shopping Center makes money to support our facilities is the same way you do back on Earth... namely ADVERTISING... We have many options available.. Posters on our walls is the least expensive of the options and there is a lot of wall space on the station. Posters tend to break up the monotony of the metal walls and remind us of home. Robert Bigelow has a very interesting poster, taken from what inspired him. I am sure you have seen the message before... Look to the wall above your head...
Image Courtesy: Bigelow Aerospace
Bigelow Aerospace also offers you the opportunity to
"Fly Your Stuff" Click on the link or image above and find out how. And don't worry, we have lots of "space" up here.
Seeing as Robert doesn't get along well with NASA, (his anacronym is No Access to Space for Americans) ask yourself just how is he getting his modules and your 'stuff' up here. Interesting question indeed... but we will cover that later
There is a lot of traffic up here, what with the cargo flights to the stations and the mining operations, flights to the outer planets, the "Visitors" and not to forget the Military. Its a wonder we don't get more collisions. If you wish to reach traffic on its way to the the Moon, Mars and the outer planets that don't normal stop at "this" station there are two options we have available... We have banner space available on the outside of the station. Several companies have already taken advantage of this space very effectively through our sponsorship opportunities. The second option,
Bigelow Aerospace has just completed their new
"electronic billboard", again only someone from Vegas would conceive this...
Hello from Genesis II
Historic – First Time – Never Done Before!
Image Courtesy: Bigelow Aerospace
Lego Creates New Toy
Cosmonaut Talgat Musabayev plays with the LEGO Mars Planet Protector toy while aboard the ISS. (HO/WirePix)
Lego has just released their new toy in their "Life on Mar" Series. Here Cosmonaut and Soyuz Commander Talgat Musabayev tests one out in Zero G. I am told these are very popular with the kids on Mars. However if your thinking of getting one for the kids back on Earth don't count on it... These are in reality much more than toys...
"The Lego Company, being active in the non space area, in co-operation with Intospace, a space industry service provider, developed a space education project aimed at developing, launching and operating a Lego Robot on the Space Station. This series is a highly sophisticated assembly set with programmable microchips and advanced reaction systems such as light-, touch or rotational sensors. The space environment of the ISS was perceived as the right scenario for this hi-tech project."
Source -
Smithsonian
PEGASUS NOTE: This Lego Robot does not sound like a toy! In fact the Smithsonian Report above states - "Therefore a public competition was announced to create attention offering interested people to participate in developing a robot that will be in the condition to support the ISS crew during their daily routine work."
You probably picked up a copy of popular Mechanics on your trip up here or while waiting it the lobby for the tour. Popular Mechanics has long been showing the world what's going on in Space. It's only fitting that they are a sponsor as well. You can purchase copies in the Commissary
Popular Mechanics
Cosmonaut Yuri Baturin, the flight engineer on space tourist Dennis Tito's Soyuz trip to the ISS, took Popular Mechanics to new heights - as it were - on his recent visit to the station.
Another opportunity available to advertising agencies is the shooting of commercials for television back on Earth. We recently did a Father's Day presentation for Radio Shack...
Radio Shack Shoots Commercial in
Space
Image Courtesy: Luna Corp.
Radio Shack delivers Father's Day gift in space International Space Station Astronauts Receive Father's Day Gifts
Fort Worth, Texas - April 30, 2001 - The Russian cosmonauts who ferried up a fresh lifeboat to the International Space Station are delivering surprise Father's Day gifts for American astronaut James Voss and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachev. Radio Shack is sending them talking picture frames with photos and 10 second voice messages from their daughters.
Today's Soyuz docking is the last opportunity to have a crew deliver Father's Day gifts before Sunday, June 17. The visiting Soyuz cosmonaut crew of Talgat Musabayev and Yuri Baturin, who blasted off from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on April 28, carried both frames up to the International Space Station." -
Source Luna Corp.
Radio Shack First To Air TV Spot Filmed On The International Space Station
Commercial Launches May 27 For Father's Day
Shooting on Location: Outer Space
Image Courtesy: Luna Corp.
"Luna Corp. created several projects that engaged the public's interest in space, and that were aimed at enabling direct participation in space exploration. It was founded in 1989 and was dissolved in 2003 after working with NASA, the Russian space agency and commercial sponsors on visionary projects. The company's former president, David Gump, is now CEO of Transformational Space Corp.
Luna Corp. was the first company to successfully arrange for a television commercial to be shot on the International Space Station. Radio Shack aired its space station commercial starting on May 30, 2001, and bought additional network time leading up to Father's Day because it drew such a strong positive response from audiences. The following is the news release issued by Radio Shack and Luna Corp. announcing the event." - Source Luna Corp.
Many of you are probably getting hungry by now... and I know most of you are interested in just what we eat up here... I know Earth TV tends to show you the prepackaged 'sterile' food pouches. We always get a kick out of those reports... we never could figure out why its such a big secret on Earth...
So lets take a few minutes to finish with the commercialization of space and we will give you a tour of the 'pantry'... then stop for a bite to eat at the commissary
Pizza Hut Delivers in Space
A Pizza Hut logo appeared on the side of the Proton rocket that launched the Zvezda service module; part of Russia's commercialization of its cash strapped space program
Station captain Yuri Usachev proudly displays the first chain pizza out of the gravity well. (HO/WirePix)
Capitalism Wins: Russia Takes the Lead in Space Age Advertising
By Todd Halvorson
31 May 2001
It's also the beginning of a new space race, one in which the Russians have once again taken an early lead over their American counterparts.
In what amounts to an orbital battle of "me first" product placement, advertisers in the U.S. and Europe are scrambling to get onboard Space Station Alpha, which is being raised some 240 miles (384 kilometers) above Earth.
In may, four major corporations -- Radio Shack, Popular Mechanics, The LEGO Company and Pizza Hut -- paid to have cosmonauts promote consumer goods aboard the outpost. Meanwhile on Earth,
U.S. federal government regulations have relegated NASA to the sidelines as the cash strapped Russians are rocketing off into a new age of high flying advertising, marketing and promotion.
Said Jay McGill, publisher of Popular Mechanics: "Anything can be done for rubles."
Source
As you have probably guessed by now, the Russians play a key role up here, unlike what you have been led to believe on Earth. You will see many more examples of this as we continue the tour... Yes Robert Bigelow uses the Russians to launch his vessels, as a matter of fact has recently contracted with the Russians and ATK, An Advanced Weapon and Space Systems Company to purchase the
ISC Kosmotras Space and Missile Complex
Russian Federation, Province of Orenburg, Yasny. This is a little known fact back on Earth...
Pizza Hut Celebrates Successful Delivery to Space
22 May 2001
"Pizza Hut announced Tuesday that "the world's first space consumable pizza" had safely arrived on the International Space Station (ISS), where it was eaten by the astronauts living onboard.
"Wherever there is life, there will be Pizza Hut pizza," the Dallas based pizza chain's chief marketing officer Randy Gier said in a statement. "If space tourism is going to be a reality, Pizza Hut pizza will make the trip even better."
Source[/COLOR]
"Despite the unusual delivery address, the pizza, called "the culmination of nearly a year of collaboration" between the company and Russian nutritionists, largely conformed to the familiar recipe served up by some 12,000 Pizza Hut restaurants worldwide -- crust, tomato sauce and cheese.
However, the vacuum sealed space pizza was topped with salami rather than the traditional pepperoni. "Researchers found that pepperoni did not withstand the 60 day testing process," a company release rather cryptically stated."
Source
Pizza Hut Puts Pie in the Sky with Rocket Logo
Capitalism Wins: Russia Takes the Lead in Space Age Advertising
"The US restaurant chain Pizza Hut has announced that it has become the first company in the world to deliver a pizza to outer space. The company is no stranger to making deliveries in bizarre circumstances - in 1991 they delivered pizzas to Boris Yeltsin and his supporters, who had prevailed over an attempted coup. When food supplies dwindled in the Russian Parliament building, Mr. Yeltsin called Pizza Hut delivery.
The publicity stunt however, may antagonize Russia's American counterparts on the ISS."
BBC News: Pizza sets new delivery record
Pizza Hut now holds the record for the first pizza delivered to space, the fastest delivery, the furthest delivery and the highest delivery. Speaking of which, I believe it is time to take a break and have something to eat. Follow me....
"That brings up a good point, what's the food like up here?"
Next Installment
Food on the ISS