Amateur UK scientists launch 'makeshift Santa' to space

Two amateur scientists have sent the Christmas spirit towards outer space, as they launched a high altitude weather balloon attached to a makeshift Santa and Rudolph on a sleigh

Mark Ireland and Cassie Phelps launched the balloon from the Forest of Dean and watched it disappear into the sky, Metro.co.uk reported.

The makeshift Santa and Rudolph reached 100,000ft above the earth’s surface, as the camera attached captured incredible views of the space.

The helium filled balloon, which had cost around 50 pounds, popped and landed 70 miles away from its launch position in Yeovil in Somerset.

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