CCP to launch Eve Online players into space today
Update: first HD photograph of Skyward Sphere.
Update: CCP has released the first HD image of the Skyward Sphere in space.
Original story: At 1pm UK time today, CCP will launch the identity of every Eve Online character into space as part of its Skyward Sphere project.
The launch was scheduled to take place during this year's Fanfest event in Reyjkavik, but was postponed indefinitely due to unsuitable weather conditions.
All players who held an active subscription as of 31st December 2011 will have their character name and portrait recorded in a capsule attached to a weather balloon. The balloon will then ascend to a height of over 100,000 feet, while three high-definition cameras will provide a stream of the capsule's progress.
Assuming the launch is successful and the capsule returns to earth, the Icelandic Coast Guard will recover the craft as part of their search-and-rescue training operations.
You can track the progress of the capsule via GPS, or follow the live feed at the Skyward Sphere website.