As an attempt to bolster the pride of a nation still devastated from the Cola Wars, a pair of 17-year-old Canadian high school students decided to record their launch of a Lego minifig into space. As this video shows, they were successful. All it took was a few months work and about $500.
The two Toronto teens, Matthew Ho and Asad Muhammad, purchased a weather balloon and outfitted it with cameras, a GPS-equipped cellphone, and a Lego minifig holding a tiny Canadian flag in a custom-designed Styrofoam box.
As soon as the winds shifted to keep the balloon inside the Canadian border they launched it and waited, hoping their amateur spacecraft would get a few pics. Roughly two hours after letting the balloon go they were notified by the cellphone of the craft's successful return. It travled approximately 15 miles up into the stratosphere and roughly 75 miles laterally, capturing some stunning images along the way.
Good work, Canadians!
(Hat tip to Rory/RochesterSuwbay!)