As part of a global launch for some logo reworking, fast food chain KFC has built a huge version of its logo they claim is visible by space satellites.

For extra effect, the 87,500 square foot image was placed in the USA’s Area 51 desert - famed for its supposed connection to alien UFO sightings. It’s the official debut of a global campaign that will spruce up KFC restaurants in over 80 countries over the next few years.

KFC’s new look spans all visual elements from logo to restaurant design, advertising, packaging and uniforms. The new logo replaces Colonel Sanders’ white suit with a red apron.

KFC president Gregg Dedrick tells us:

“The Colonel is truly a global icon and we want everyone in the universe to see KFC’s new look of the future. KFC is boldly going where no brand has gone before as Colonel Sanders takes one small step for humankind, but one giant leap for fried chicken.”

The logo placement also features a competition, with the chance to win one of 10,000 KFC sandwiches by spotting a secret message hidden within the Area 51 desert logo.

It took a team of nearly 50 working nearly three months to conceive, create and execute building the world’s largest logo. Taking more than 3,000 hours to create from inception to launch, it was built by event marketing outfit Synergy.

The logo consists of 65,000 one-foot by one-foot painted tile pieces. It took 24 days to manufacture and six days of on site construction. However, it’s not the first marketing exercise to attempt a space view. Maxim USA did the same thing earlier in 2006. The magazine cover, featuring Desperate Housewive’s Eva Longoria, was enlarged to 75 by 110 feet and placed in the Las Vegas desert.

Moreover, you could argue that these stunts are not really visible from space at all. For that, they would need to be a lot larger. The photos are taken with satellites containing special high power lenses. Or simply from aeroplanes flying just a few thousand feet up.