FIRST it conquered the globe, now it’s on a mission to extend its reach into outer space.
A slice of cloth decorated in the distinctive Paisley design has blasted off onboard a rocket bound for the International Space Station where it will orbit the planet at speeds in excess of 17,000mph.
The cloth has been cut from a shawl held at Paisley Museum as part of a special reserve to the main collection set aside specifically for research.
Paisley Pattern originated in the 18th century and takes its moniker from in the town where it was created. 

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It soon attracted worldwide appeal due to trading around the Commonwealth following the widening jurisdiction of the British Empire.
When the rocket finally returns to Earth, the swatch of pattern will be recovered and brought back to Paisley where bosses on the town’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021 hope to be able to put it on display.
The interplanetary link-up was the brainchild of Paisley native Andy Campbell, the commercial director of the International Space Station Educational Trust (ISSET).
ISSET previously brought the week-long Mission Discovery space school to Renfrewshire, which is led by Nasa astronauts and sees groups of local pupils design their own science experiments, with the winner launched into space and carried out on board the ISS.

The Herald:

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Andy said: “I’ve been fortunate to be working with ISSET for a number of years now and the work they do sending school experiments into space is amazing. We’ve run Mission Discovery in Paisley for three years now and given the town’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021, I thought it would be a great idea to organise a swatch of Paisley Pattern from the Museum to be sent into and returned from space.
“The Pattern is a global success, this way it will get to orbit the planet.”
Renfrewshire’s Provost Anne Hall added: “The Paisley Pattern has already carried the town’s name around the world – now it’s conquered the galaxy too!

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“Things like this are a great way to remind people of Paisley and Renfrewshire’s connections with the rest of the world and of what the area has to offer residents and visitors alike.
“For example Paisley already has a great vantage point from which to enjoy a view of the stars, with Coats Observatory one of the few remaining public observatories in Scotland.
“I look forward to being able to welcome the piece of pattern back to Paisley.”
The cloth will complete its orbit after six weeks.