.png)
As one of Major League Soccer’s most famous and decorated clubs, holding the record for most MLS Cup titles, LA Galaxy likely comes to mind when you think about soccer. Over the years LA Galaxy have hosted the likes of David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Stephen Gerrard, and many more football superstars.
Anticipating the launch of their new retro-inspired Adidas third kit, LA Galaxy approached us with an out-of-this-world challenge. Fitting to their name, LA Galaxy proposed that we showcase their vibrant new “RetroGrade” kit in space to mark the occasion, along with its older twin, the iconic 1996 Nike legacy kit from which the new borrows its identity.
The Concept
Our creative team collaborated with LA Galaxy to build an awe-inspiring narrative. We made the suggestion to launch both shirts simultaneously and capture footage that could be seamlessly intercut, creating an engaging and immersive story for their fans.
Additionally, we proposed to launch a third craft carrying a haul of the new soccer kit in cargo to offer LA Galaxy fans the chance to win a space-flown RetroGrade kit.
Engineering Custom Spacecraft for the LA Galaxy Kits
To fulfil the requirements of our brief, Sent Into Space engineers designed and built two identical spacecraft, each equipped with twin 360° camera systems positioned on either side of a mannequin at the centre of the vessel. One camera showcased the iconic 1996 Nike kit, and the other displayed the new Adidas kit. For creative flare, we planned to utilise the versatility of the two 360° cameras, creatively reframing the kits, and adding a spinning effect to create an eye-catching transition between them.
We also developed a cargo vehicle designed to carry 25 of the new Adidas Third Kits, including 10 signed shirts for the Galaxians!
Sending LA Galaxy Kits to the Stars
On launch day our engineers prepared the spaceflights from our specialist site in Derbyshire, UK. Upon arrival, the team encountered light rain and thick clouds. However, our launch team remained confident having conducted precise weather predictions beforehand, indicating a clear window for lift-off within the hour.
As forecast, the clouds had parted, and they were ready to proceed. The first launch was the cargo spacecraft carrying the new Adidas retro Third Kits, including ten signed shirts. The launch team filled the balloons with hydrogen, secured them to the flight train, tracking systems, and the craft, and after final checks, the first balloon was airborne.
However, our work was far from over—we still had two more craft to launch. It was crucial to launch both soccer kits simultaneously to ensure consistent lighting and cloud conditions for seamless footage. After quick and organised preparations, both kit spacecraft were launched seamlessly, completing our mission.
The cargo spacecraft ascended above the Earth, reaching an altitude of 114,000 feet, and the two kit-carrying spacecraft reached over 116,000 feet before starting their descent. On landing, our recovery team collected the spacecraft and their cargo and returned to Sent Into Space HQ to process the footage.
The Final Result
LA Galaxy’s space campaign merges 90's nostalgia with contemporary elements relevant to the club and their "RetroGrade" third kit showcasing an original design that serves as a testament to the kit's legacy.
To match the '90s nostalgia evoked by the new LA Galaxy kit, our creative team experimented with off-speed frame rates and reframed 360 video to capture stuttered frames with motion blur, matching LA Galaxy's tone of voice and cinematic shooting direction.
Want to see the full result? You can find out by watching this video below:
If you're interested in a space launch of your own, get in touch with our team to discuss your idea further.