A British Microsoft reseller has sent a Windows Server 2003 disk into "space" to commemorate the official end of life for the operating system this week.
London's Databarracks joined forces with the University of Surrey's Electronics and Amateur Radio Society to send a balloon containing a copy of Windows 2003 – which Microsoft is withdrawing support from on Tuesday – into the stratosphere.
"There's almost a feeling of nostalgia when we think about Server 2003 reaching end of life… We wanted to give it a fitting send off," said Databarracks managing director Peter Groucutt.
The balloon is estimated to have ascended to an altitude of 30km. By comparison, commercial aircraft mostly fly at an altitude of about 10km. Cameras on the balloon filmed the adventure, the highlights of which Databarracks posted on Youtube last week (see below).
"The curvature of the earth can be seen quite clearly in the film as the balloon approaches its maximum height," stated Databarracks.
Groucutt said that the ageing operating system had been "a reliable workhorse" for many customers, and had served his company well: "We were founded in 2003 and so Windows 2003 has been integral to us from the start."
The managing director reminded businesses that while keeping Windows 2003 beyond end of life is technically possible, such a decision comes with risks.
"Expect IT support companies to increase the cost of support of 2003 boxes. Microsoft are rumoured to be charging around US$600 per incident," he said.
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