Mark Rober, the YouTuber famed for glitter-bombing thieves and building quirky gadgets, is taking his creativity to cosmic levels. Partnering with Google and T-Mobile, Rober plans to launch a satellite into orbit that allows you to snap a selfie with planet Earth in the background.
The project merges Rober’s love for engineering and spectacle. The satellite, equipped with dual cameras and Google Pixel phones for redundancy, will capture uploaded selfies displayed on a Google Pixel screen, with Earth serving as a magnificent backdrop. Here’s the twist: if you share your location, the selfie can be taken when the satellite is positioned over your city. Rober promises to notify participants of the exact time, giving them a chance to be “in the shot” twice on the screen and standing outside below.
The satellite is set to launch aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 12 mission in January 2025 and will begin snapping selfies a few months later. Participation, however, requires a code, which can be obtained by subscribing to Rober’s CrunchLabs engineering kits (costing $25-$80 annually), via the T-Life app for T-Mobile subscribers, or through promotions for Google Pixel users.
Once equipped with a code, you’ll visit spaceselfie.com starting December 3rd, upload your selfie, and receive tracking details for your celestial photo op. Rober’s satellite features a solar-powered 120Wh battery and an innovative flywheel mechanism to manage the satellite’s orientation, balancing solar energy collection, selfie capturing, and image transmission without traditional thrusters.
Rober’s YouTube video dives into the technical ingenuity behind this audacious project. Combining entertainment, engineering, and a dash of space exploration, the stunt is a reminder of how creativity and technology can elevate everyday experiences literally.