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Being the longest-running children's TV show in the world, Blue Peter has made a lasting impression on the early years of millions across the UK for over 65 years. Its episodes are known for their wide range of content, from arts and crafts tutorials using household items to celebrity guest interviews. The show also features exciting report segments where presenters participate in unique educational activities and challenges.
So, when Blue Peter approached us with an extraordinary request for World Space Week—a challenge to make ice cream in space using the extreme low temperatures of the stratosphere—we were thrilled to be a part of it. The concept was simple but ambitious: at 100,000 feet above Earth, temperatures plummet to around -65°C, which should be more than cold enough to churn out a batch of delicious ice cream.
Engineering the Space Ice Cream Maker
Our engineers faced several challenges:
Weight Constraints: The spacecraft needed to be as lightweight as possible to reach the desired altitude. We used carbon fibre to construct the frame, balancing strength and weight.
Equipment Modification: We stripped out unnecessary components from the ice cream maker and hijacked its power supply to ensure it could operate under stratospheric conditions.
Temperature regulation: In order to make the perfect batch of space ice cream, we needed to ensure the ice cream mixture dropped to at least -7°C in space.
Ice cream expertise: We worked with ice cream expert Johnny 'Gelato' Ireland to craft the ice cream mixture and modify the ice cream maker.
After rigorous testing, the spacecraft was ready for launch.
Launch Day with Blue Peter
In late September, Blue Peter presenter Joel and his crew with ice cream expert Johnny Gelato joined us at our headquarters in Sheffield. Excitement was growing as we performed our final checks. With cameras rolling, we initiated the countdown. The spacecraft lifted off gracefully, embarking on its journey to the edge of space.
The Recovery Mission
Using tracking systems, we monitored the spacecraft's ascent and descent. After it landed 53 kilometres from our launch site, our recovery team and the Blue Peter crew were just minutes behind the craft on their way to retrieve it. We were eager to see the results of our space ice cream experiment.
The ice cream makers' space journey
Upon opening the ice cream maker, we were met with a surprise: the ice cream mixture was mostly liquid, and a significant portion was missing. After Joel tried a scoop of the mixture, initial disappointment quickly turned into curiosity. What had happened during the flight? Back at headquarters, we reviewed the onboard footage to uncover the mystery.
As the craft ascended, the air pressure decreased significantly. At around 19 kilometres in altitude, the pressure difference caused gases dissolved in the ice cream mixture to expand.
The expanding gases pushed the mixture out through the lid, creating a foamy substance that escaped the machine. The exposed ice cream mixture froze upon contact with the -65°C temperatures, forming icy crystals on the outside of the machine. A frozen crust formed over the remaining mixture inside, acting as an insulator and preventing further freezing.
As the craft descended through warmer atmospheric layers, the external ice cream began to melt, explaining why we found a melted mess upon recovery.
Did We Make Ice Cream in Space?
Technically, yes! While we didn't return with a conventional batch of ice cream, we did create a frozen ice cream foam in the stratosphere. The unique environmental conditions led to an unexpected but scientifically fascinating result.
Lessons Learned for World Space Week
Collaborating with Blue Peter allowed us to inspire kids with engaging real-world science and engineering applications for World Space Week.
Our experiment was a valuable learning experience: We gained insights into how pressure and temperature affect liquids, and how they change in extreme environments and also highlighted the importance of accounting for all environmental variables in experiments.
Are you interested in conducting your own stratospheric experiments? At Sent Into Space, we specialise in high-altitude projects that blend science, technology, and creativity. Contact us today to turn your out-of-this-world ideas into reality.