Ever dreamed of taking a selfie in space with Earth photobombing the background? Thanks to former NASA engineer and YouTube star Mark Rober, that dream is now a reality — and it’s completely free! Rober, through his company CrunchLabs, has launched a satellite named SAT GUS into orbit, designed to snap out-of-this-world selfies for anyone willing to upload their photo.
Here’s how you can join the cosmic trend and get your very own space selfie.
How It Works: Your Selfie in Space
Mark Rober’s Space Selfie project, in partnership with T-Mobile and Google Pixel, is as innovative as it is accessible.
The process is simple:
- Visit the Website: Head to https://www.spaceselfie.com/, the official platform for the Space Selfie initiative.
- Upload Your Photo: Choose a selfie or any photo you’d like to send to space. The platform accepts solo shots, group photos, or even pictures of your pets, as long as they align with the family-friendly community guidelines.
- Select Your Location: You can pick a country or region where you’d like the photo to be taken. Want to see Earth from above your hometown? Just specify your preferred spot, and SAT GUS will do its best to capture the shot as it orbits at 17,000 miles per hour, 375 miles above the surface.
- Wait for Your Cosmic Keepsake: Due to the high demand—thousands of people are jumping at this chance—your space selfie will likely be emailed to you within 2–3 days. The satellite beams the images back to Earth after capturing them on its screen with the stunning backdrop of our planet.
SAT GUS, launched on January 14, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is a CubeSat designed for this unique purpose. The satellite displays your uploaded photo on a screen and photographs it with Earth in the background, ensuring you get a genuine off-world selfie.
Why It’s a Big Deal
This project isn’t just a gimmick — it’s a remarkable blend of engineering and creativity. Rober, who spent years at NASA before becoming a YouTube sensation, has a history of making science fun and accessible.
His Space Selfie initiative, which cost $5 million to develop, reflects that mission.
By opening the project to the public for free (as of May 2025), Rober is democratizing access to space in a way that’s never been done before.
Posts on X highlight the excitement, with users calling it “a dream come true for space nerds” and marveling at the chance to have their photo taken in orbit.
You don’t need to be a T-Mobile customer or a CrunchLabs member to participate—anyone over 13 can upload a photo.
However, the platform screens every image to ensure it meets community standards, rejecting anything inappropriate, such as graphic content or copyrighted material like cartoons or celebrity photos.
What to Expect and Things to Keep in Mind
While the process is straightforward, the popularity of the Space Selfie project means there’s a slight delay in receiving your photo. With thousands of submissions, the team behind SAT GUS processes and beams back images within 2–3 days, delivering your space selfie directly to your email. The photo comes with a sharable URL, but it’s not publicly posted unless you choose to share it, addressing privacy concerns some users have raised on platforms like Reddit.
It’s worth noting that SAT GUS has a limited lifespan. The satellite is expected to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere in a few years, ensuring it won’t become space debris or fall into the hands of hypothetical aliens—a playful concern some have mentioned online. Until then, Rober’s team plans to keep snapping selfies for the rest of 2025, so there’s still time to join in.
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A Cosmic Opportunity for Everyone
Mark Rober’s Space Selfie project is more than just a fun photo op—it’s a testament to how technology can bring space closer to everyday people.
For free, you can have your image captured in orbit, with Earth as your backdrop, all from the comfort of your home.
Whether you’re a space enthusiast or just want a unique keepsake, this is your chance to be part of a groundbreaking initiative. Head to https://www.spaceselfie.com/ today, upload your photo, and get ready to see yourself in a whole new light — 375 miles above Earth.
This article is concise, engaging, and structured, guiding readers through the process of getting a space selfie while highlighting the project’s significance and practical details.
