Advertising in space?! NASA seriously thinks of making the moon into a big billboard …what is next, a 3D message of God?
Revealed: How NASA fell for British ad firm’s spoof project to project a cheese logo on to the Moon
- Joke corporate video claimed to be projecting a logo for a cheese firm onto the moon
- Led to string of terse emails from Nasa warning the stunt could put the International Space station in danger
A spoof video of a British company’s fictional bid to beam a cheese logo onto the moon has sparked panic at Nasa overs fears it could threaten the International Space Station.
Advertising executive James Vellacott and his colleagues dreamed up the stunt by fictitious brand ‘Mooncheeze’ as part of an annual joke video they send to clients for a festive treat.
To research the script they emailed a junior aeronautics officer in the US to work out what would be required to beam an image onto the moon.
The spoof Mooncheeze advert on the moon concocted by production company Cherryduck as part of a viral video to be sent to customers. However, it raised alarms at Nasa who thought it was real.
Film production company Cherryduck film their spoof advert on the moon – but failed to tell Nasa the plan was a joke
HOW IT WAS(N’T) DONE
The firm claimed to have build a giant projector capable of projecting the Mooncheeze logo 220 miles onto the surface of the moon.
However, in reality the projector seen in the video was a dummy made from just £15 of materials.
The firm told Nasa: ‘We are currently building an extremely high-powered projection unit to project an image into space as part of an advertising campaign.’
But the gag quickly escalated up to senior NASA officers and James received a string of terse emails warning his plans were illegal.
The space scientists warned James’ multi media firm Cherryduck that it would have to contact aviation regulators in their own country.
Producers at the advertising firm went ahead with the film – but yesterday admitted they had not contacted Nasa to explain the enquiry had all been part of a joke.
Mr Vellacott, 42, said: ‘A couple of emails were exchanged and we were terrified we were going to get a call from federal agents.
‘Obviously we didn’t think it would cause quite the panic it did.
‘We were all laughing in the office because obviously it was just a bit of fun.
‘But I suppose NASA has a very serious job to do and they must get loons suggesting ideas all the time.
‘I suppose we just didn’t expect Nasa to react like it did, I hope they join in on the laugh when they watch the clip.’
The firm produced detailed plans for the project which it asked Nasa’s advice on – but space bosses thought the plan was real