A school science project in England has turned into an unexpected real-life space mystery after a group of students successfully launched a teddy bear named Bradford Bear into the stratosphere—only for the brave plush astronaut to vanish without a trace on the way back down.

As part of a hands-on lesson about atmospheric science and engineering, the students attached Bradford Bear to a large meteorological weather balloon and equipped the rig with cameras, tracking instruments, and protective casing. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), school balloon launches like this are increasingly popular because they offer an accessible way to teach students about pressure, temperature, and the layers of Earth’s atmosphere. Weather balloons routinely rise between 18 and 22 miles before bursting, which aligns with the bear’s impressive ascent of more than 16 miles into the sky.

The mission began smoothly as the balloon climbed upward, capturing stunning aerial footage and sending back data similar to what NASA’s educational outreach programs describe as “near-space conditions”—cold temperatures, thin air, and breathtaking curvature-of-the-Earth visuals. However, something went wrong during the descent. At some point after the balloon burst, Bradford Bear became detached from the main payload. While the scientific equipment returned safely to the ground, the star of the mission did not.

Teachers believe the teddy bear may have fallen somewhere between Earley and Fawley in southern England. The landing zone is difficult to pinpoint because, as the UK Met Office notes, weather balloons are highly affected by wind patterns, turbulence, and unpredictable air currents. Even minor gusts can alter the descent path by several miles. With no tracker of his own, Bradford Bear effectively disappeared into the English countryside.

Now, educators are turning to the public for assistance. They’ve shared photos, flight details, and an approximate map, hoping that hikers, farmers, or curious residents might come across the missing explorer. Community-sourced recoveries are not uncommon—BBC News has previously reported multiple cases where runaway balloon experiments were found weeks later by dog walkers, cyclists, or even drones searching rural areas.

The teachers say the project was meant to inspire creativity and scientific curiosity—and in a way, it has exceeded expectations. The story of Bradford Bear has captured attention both locally and online, proving once again how playful science can spark joy and engagement far beyond the classroom.

Although the students are disappointed, they haven’t given up hope. “Space missions are always unpredictable,” one educator joked, echoing the kind of resilience that The Guardian highlights in STEM-based learning programs. And indeed, this unexpected twist has turned a standard experiment into a memorable adventure.