From the beginning, HP naturally focused on the innovation needed to ensure astronauts could print mission critical documents in zero-gravity – meeting the strict technical requirements mentioned above. While working with a team from NASA, which included four astronauts, the HP team heard personal accounts of living in space.

During these conversations the team had an “aha” moment – realizing life on the ISS is like life on earth; astronauts wake up, go to work, print out procedural documents, run tests – then they “go home” and have reminders of family and friends that they brought with them in their living spaces.

Hearing directly from the astronauts of the challenges of missing special moments on earth, the HP team reimagined everything a printer could create in space and reworked the printer to ensure it could also print high quality photos – bringing a touch of home to one high above.

We revolutionized zero-gravity printing.

We partnered with NASA and four astronauts to analyze every piece of the printer – including working with our 3D printing teams, experimenting with new materials like 3D printed nylon filled with glass beads, so printer components would be flexible and durable.

We took media and employees into “space.”

To drive excitement internally, we hosted a once-in-a-lifetime zero-gravity flight experience. The flight allowed 30 people to experience weightlessness and underscored the challenges of reimagining a zero-gravity printer.

We made the HP ENVY ISS more than a printer.

The stories told through our earned outreach and social content during a six-month period focused on how HP revolutionized the many things a printer can do in zero-gravity, and drove coverage across tech, science, business and trade publications. But still, the most important outcome here, is that HP made life in the stars feel a little more like home.

With more than 217 million earned impressions to date, we made the launch of the HP ENVY ISS about more than a new printer; we made this a moment to consider how a simple print can turn a space station into a home.

Mashable agreed—noting that “[astronauts are] just people doing a job and living at home, which just happens to be in space.” Additionally, The Verge noted, “…what else do the astronauts like to print? Photographs from Earth.”

Coverage also reinforced HP’s continued leadership in the print industry – with this project reaffirming the possibilities of print and underscoring HP as one of the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley.

Twelve viewing parties were held for HP’s more than 50,000 employees to watch the HP ENVY ISS’ take off into space, capturing the hearts and minds of the team – highlighting HP as an innovative place to work.

And now, when the lonely six have finished their work for the day, and head “home” for the night, printed photos of life’s little moments await them, bringing them just a bit closer to ones thinking about them down below.