Kiwi-American couple set record with gender reveal (almost literally) out of this world

Lance Patrick and Ashley Blankenship have truly raised the bar for baby gender reveal announcements - all the way into the stratosphere.

The couple sent a weather balloon carrying the baby's information to an altitude of 3284m.

Patrick and Blankenship enlisted the help of a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) high school team called Earth To Sky Calculus to send the baby's gender announcement to the edge of space.

The team launched the custom black weather balloon into the stratosphere from Bishop, California.

The interior lining hid the colour corresponding to the baby's gender and featured stitched personalised wording.

The balloon was also equipped with multiple GoPro cameras and GPS tracking devices.

When it reached 3284m, the balloon burst to reveal the colour inside.

Patrick, the baby's father, is a Kiwi American standup comedian. His mum told the Herald Patrick was born in the US but has a close connection to New Zealand, as most of the family is still here.

"When you're this excited about something, you want to tell the world! So we did!" the proud father-to-be said.

"We are glad to have set a new bar for gender reveals. We can't wait to see how we inspire other couples with doing something as innovative as our gender reveal, for their own.

"What's more, it was delightful to collaborate with the Earth To Sky Calculus student team, and make our contribution towards promoting STEM education."

"The launch date is of great significance to us, as it marked the 20-year anniversary of my father's death. It was a great way to celebrate his life, as well as our baby's impending arrival, and create a lasting memory, which our child will be able to look back to with fondness," he added.

Baby boy Tesla Curtis is due on December 7 and will have dual Kiwi-American citizenship.