Bay of Plenty company Enternet Online's mascot EVA is heading back to the Bay after visiting space in a world first feat.

The toy mascot was launched into space on Earth Day on April 22 as part of a spaceweather.com initiative to gather crucial scientific data and information.

Bay company EOL Online's space cow EVA at the edge of space.

EOL Online won a worldwide bid to be part of trip, in an effort to promote the Bay of Plenty to the world.

Incredible first images and video show EVA's space expedition from high over the Nevada Desert to the edge of space and back to Earth.

EOL Online managing director Terry Coles says the footage is exciting to watch and fairly dramatic at times due to the remote landing of the capsule deep in Death Valley.

'The images of EVA our toy mascot cow, resplendent with Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby's lapel pin and Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson's badge are incredible,” says Terry.

'We have quite literally shone sunlight on the Bay at the very edge of space and that's a first. But due to the remote landing of the capsule after it descended back to Earth the recovery team, led by expedition leader Dr Tony Phillips of spaceweather.com, had possibly their most challenging recovery to date.”

Bay company EOL Online's space cow EVA basks in the sun at the edge of space.

To reach EVA the recovery team, which included some students from nearby Bishop High School, had to go over a 6000foot ridge of mountains in a remote corner of Death Valley national park.

A GPS locator pinpointed EVA's exact whereabouts in the infamous Playa Racetrack where rocks weighing up to 50kg move on their own, often travelling over a kilometre.

The team had to get in and out in daylight with temperatures dropping from as high as 50 degree Celsius during the day to minus 10 degree Celsius at night.

'On Friday about 11.30am we received word they had located EVA and the data. Even then they weren't sure the video and images would be retrievable given the temperature extremes in Death Valley. But luck was on our side and today we received the video and images,” says Terry.

Assisting with EVA's job in representing the Bay of Plenty has been Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Rhys Arrowsmith, who says it's an exciting project to be a part of.

'EOL has engineered an amazing opportunity to promote the Bay to a global audience,” says Rhys.

'Being part of World Earth Day makes it all the more appropriate – given the Bay of Plenty is one of the most beautiful parts of one of the best countries in the world to live.”

EVA will be safely returned to New Zealand again with TNT Express special services.

Bay company EOL Online's space cow EVA takes flight over the Nevada Desert.

A rough landing back in Earth for Bay company EOL Online's space cow EVA.

The space balloon pops as Bay company EOL Online's space cow Eva descends back into Earth.