The Telstar rocket design was inspired by the great space race of the early 1960’s between the Soviet Union and the United States for supremacy in space exploration.

Between 1957 and 1975, cold war rivalry between the two nations focused on attaining firsts in space exploration which were seen necessary for national security and were symbolic of technological superiority. The space race involved pioneering efforts to launch artificial satellites, sub-orbital and orbital human spaceflight around the Earth and eventually, successfully piloted voyages to the dark side of the Moon and back.

The design of the Telstar came later in 1990 and it was an instant success from the day of its launch.  Edward Craven Walker, the inventor of the lava lamp was still a consultant at Mathmos at this time and he contributed to the Telstar’s design.

The main feature of the Telstar was its three long tripod legs which were made out of cast zinc.  Each leg was individually hand polished in the Mathmos factory.

Other designs and lamp names followed suite with association to space.

For me, rocket shaped lava lamps epitomize the era that lava lamps were born in and their shape perfectly embodies the science within while remaining a timeless retro object of beauty and desire.