Meat and potato pie launched into SPACE to mark World Pie-Eating Championship

A meat and potato pie has been sent into space in a ‘pie-oneering’ mission ahead of the World Pie Eating Championship next week.

The pie was attached to a weather balloon and launched into space this week from a pub in Wigan, the home of the competition, and is believed to be the first pie to be launched into the stratosphere.

The aim of the tongue-in-cheek experiment is to see if the pie’s journey up to 100,000ft changes its molecular structure – making it faster to eat.

The pie was made by Ultimate Purveyors from St Helens and launched on its mission by Sheffield-based SentIntoSpace, who have attached tracking equipment to the weather balloon and will record the journey.

It is thought the pie will freeze as it ascends towards the stratosphere, but then cook on re-entry.

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The annual World Pie Eating Championships returns to Harry’s Bar, Wallgate Wigan, on December 20.

Last year’s winner Martin Appleton-Clare managed to wolf down a steak and kidney pie in just 38.2 seconds to take the title.