by Jacob VanGundy | Published
Doritos made history with its zero-g ad, the first commercial ever shot in space. SpaceX’s astronaut crew shot a commercial during the Polaris Dawn mission, which has already gone viral in many ways, without shooting an ad. Getting the commercial off the ground was a difficult task, requiring Frito-Lay to create special chips for astronauts to enjoy while orbiting Earth.
The charity supported by the Doritos zero-g ad was chosen by the astronauts themselves and Frito-Lay used the stunt as an opportunity to raise money and give a big donation themselves.
Despite its history, the Doritos zero-g ad is short and to the point. The 15-second commercial shows a team of 4 astronauts eating chips while floating with snacks. As the astronauts enjoy their snacks, a voiceover explains that the chips are being launched into space as part of a charity program for Saint Jude Children’s Hospital.
The charity supported by the Doritos zero-g ad was chosen by the astronauts themselves and Frito-Lay used the stunt as an opportunity to raise money and make a big donation themselves. Frito-Lay is holding a giveaway and those who donate enough are entered into a drawing for local chips. Those who donated $200 could get matching chips sent into space, while those who donated $1,000 were entered to win chips that would make a round trip to space.
The Doritos in the zero-g ad had to be customized to be safely eaten in space, as the chips are often too dirty to be eaten in space. Debris is a major hazard in space where it can be inhaled or lodged in an astronaut’s eye, not to mention the damage it can do if it ends up inside a phone. To avoid the crumb problem, Frito-Lay made bite-sized chips and replaced their signature powder with flavored oils baked into the chips.
The shooting of the Doritos zero-g ad took place as the Polaris Dawn crew prepared for another milestone, the first human space flight.
Packaging was also a challenge for the Doritos zero-g ad, which required special care to avoid the chips being destroyed during presentation. The chips were placed in special metal cans and then individually wrapped in those cans. According to SpaceX astronaut Anna Menon, the packaging worked, and the chips survived their journey to space undamaged.
Among the many debuts of the Polaris Dawn mission, the Doritos zero-g ad is one of the most light-hearted.
The shooting of the Doritos zero-g ad took place as the Polaris Dawn crew prepared for another milestone, the first civilian space flight. As the crew filmed the commercial, they were in a process called “preventing,” where the cabin pressure is reduced to prepare for space travel. During one of their meals during that procedure, the astronauts enjoyed chips and filmed a Frito-Lay commercial.
Because of the large number of historical launches, the Polaris Dawn mission was more watched than most space missions. In addition to space travel, it featured spacesuits that tested the first space crew and light shields. Its success is hailed as the winner of the future of private space exploration.
Among the many debuts of the Polaris Dawn mission, the Doritos zero-g ad is one of the most light-hearted. The mission was an important step in proving that autonomous space travel is viable, with civilian crews able to perform important experiments. The mission was also a study in the design of food for astronauts.
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