A TEAM from our sister paper, The Herald, have taken a giant step for mankind at an event in New Cumnock.

They staged The Herald Business HQ space capsule launch at Greenhead Recreation Ground - the culmination of a project, in partnership with The International Space School Education Trust (ISSET), to send a copy of their Business HQ magazine into space.

The spring issue included a look at the Scottish space industry which featured a conversation between Andy Campbell of ISSET and the Herald’s business specialist, Stephen McTaggart.

Kilmarnock hosted the first successful capsule launch last year which returned with spectacular views of Earth from the edge of space. So it was on to New Cumnock last Thursday.

Named Bonnie The Bright Star Adventurer by a schools’ competition winner, the capsule was adorned with a logo, bearing its new name, in preparation for take-off.

Then the big moment came as the team released the equipment which soared about New Cumnock before disappearing from sight.