Over the course of roughly a month, around 80 responses were collected online, with the remainder gathered in person in Finland, where the company is based. In terms of demographics, there was a slight skew toward younger participants, with the average age likely falling in the late thirties. A somewhat higher number of responses came from men than from women. Beyond that, we believe there was a wide distribution of nationalities represented, without a dominant presence from any single country, though the two most common were likely the United States and Finland. Other background details such as religion and ethnicity were not recorded, as the focus was on the answers themselves.
From the results, we can immediately see that, with the exception of “Myself,” cameras, and symbolic objects, one off answers were relatively rare and far rarer than expected. The categorisation of symbolic objects is, of course, subjective, and since this article is intended as an overview rather than a detailed data analysis, the following broader categories are proposed:
Self & People (26) Myself (all variants), My son, Ex/ex‑partner, Husband when annoying, Family photo(s), Women in STEM
Symbols & Memory (18) Time capsules, Messages in a bottle, Message for help, Wishes, Birth certificate, Historical records, Journal, Human history/civilization, Peace/anti‑war, Favourite shirt, Glass art
Photos & Cameras (12) Camera (all variants), Photo of self, Photo to be found by aliens, Other photos, Family photo
Animals & Nature (14) Cat(s), Dog(s), Monkey, Animals/birds, Spiders, Wasps, Flowers, Vegetables
Objects & Gadgets (21) Discoball, Bicycle/instrument, Cello, Gong, Vinyl, Magic the Gathering, Robovac, Rope, Sketch pen, SR‑71, Very big radio transmitter, Car(s), Christmas tree, Butterfinger, Banana/bread, Ice cream, Basketball, Earth’s trash, Tekkari object/symbol
Famous Figures (8) Politicians, Trump, Musk
Miscellaneous (3) One‑off quirky answers that don’t fit elsewhere
Looking at these categories, we can recognise a strong emphasis on the human senses. The most popular category was people, usually oneself, a loved one, or in some cases someone to “get rid of.” With the exception of ex partners, the desire to experience the cosmos firsthand is striking. For many, however, going themselves was not the priority; instead, having a camera to visually interact with the space environment was a clear contender.
Symbols were also popular. Family photos, for example, could fall into three different categories, Self & People, Photos & Cameras, and Symbols & Memory, highlighting the desire for personal symbolism. Another notable type of answer involved sending something or someone away: spiders, political figures, and other unwanted entities. This reflects an interesting perspective in which space is imagined as a solution to earthly problems, framed through the lens of exile.
Overall, the main trends can be summarised as follows:
- People want firsthand interaction with the space environment, either directly by going themselves or indirectly through a device such as a camera. This suggests a strong desire to experience space.
- There is a pronounced focus on the emotional and symbolic, whether through sending a pet, a family photo, or a cherished object. This suggests that people view space as inherently symbolic, and that having a piece of oneself there carries almost sacred meaning.
- A smaller but still significant portion of respondents view space as a place of exile for problematic beings. This category also included two responses omitted due to extreme viewpoints. This suggests that some people approach space with skepticism, prioritising the protection of Earth’s environment over the opportunities space might offer.