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Rocket Lab has put a highly reflective object into orbit around Earth:
US spaceflight startup Rocket Lab put three commercial satellites into orbit during its rocket launch this past weekend — but it turns out there was another satellite that hitched a ride on the vehicle too. The company's Electron rocket also put into orbit a previously undisclosed satellite made by Rocket Lab's CEO Peter Beck, called the Humanity Star. And the probe will supposedly become the "brightest thing in the night sky," the company announced today.
Shaped a bit like a disco ball, the Humanity Star is a 3-foot-wide carbon fiber sphere, made up of 65 panels that reflect the Sun's light. The satellite is supposed to spin in space, too, so it's constantly bouncing sunlight. In fact, the probe is so bright that people can see it with the naked eye. The Humanity Star's orbit also takes it all over Earth, so the satellite will be visible from every location on the planet at different times. Rocket Lab has set up a website that gives real-time updates about the Humanity Star's location. People can find out when the satellite will be closest to them, and then go outside to look for it.
The goal of the project is to create "a shared experience for all of humanity," according to Rocket Lab. "No matter where you are in the world, or what is happening in your life, everyone will be able to see the Humanity Star in the night sky," Beck said in a statement. "Our hope is that everyone looking at the Humanity Star will look past it to the vast expanse of the Universe and think a little differently about their lives, actions, and what is important for humanity." That includes coming together to solve major problems like climate change and resource shortages, Beck says.
Some astronomers are not happy about the geodesic sphere:
The only good thing about the "Humanity Star" (aka the NZ pollutes the night sky project) is that it burns up in 9 months. 9 months is way too far away IMHO.
— Ian Griffin (@iangriffin) January 24, 2018
Also at BBC.
Previously: Rocket Lab's Second "Electron" Rocket Launch Succeeds, Reaches Orbit
(Score: 5, Insightful) by bradley13 on Thursday January 25 2018, @08:45AM (8 children)
So I assume it will only be visible just before sunrise and just after sunset, and then only for a fairly small part of the planet at a time. Here's their tracking page [thehumanitystar.com]
It's a classic ego project: "I'm rich, all of my ideas must be great, who cares what anyone else might think". Visible space junk, gee, thanks, please don't ever do this again.
Everyone is somebody else's weirdo.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 25 2018, @08:51AM
An excellent example of "Kiwi innovation" - i.e. totally bollocks it up and then proud of it. Unfortunately unlike the neighbour's drone, its too high up to blast down with a shotgun. Idiots should be fined for this by the "court" in The Hague or something.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by anubi on Thursday January 25 2018, @08:57AM (4 children)
I actually like this thing... a demonstration that can actually be seen.
Countless school kids will see it, giving their science teachers a good "in" to excite the kids, and introduce them to the math behind the thing.
Thanks, Tachyon, for bringing it up. When I saw the story, it was just passing overhead. I had to run out to see it, but alas, even though it went right over me, it was in shadow, and I missed the show this time.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by pkrasimirov on Thursday January 25 2018, @11:10AM (2 children)
I agree, I like the idea and kudos for the implementation. Will be gazing for it.
(Score: 2) by zocalo on Thursday January 25 2018, @12:58PM (1 child)
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday January 25 2018, @11:59PM
I will forget about this before it ever becomes visible. There website said:
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1) by Muad'Dave on Thursday January 25 2018, @08:04PM
The space station is far brighter and far easier to see and track, plus it isn't coming down any time soon.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 25 2018, @03:49PM (1 child)
Hmm. Are there any space startups who are working on an anti-satellite projectile?
Maybe there should be .. .
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bob_super on Thursday January 25 2018, @05:35PM
Replacing a known traceable object with a defined decaying trajectory, by a lot of untraceable shreds with unknown orbits? Sounds like a winner!
If it really pisses you off that much (first-world problem, I guess), ask Elon to put a can of black paint in the Roadster.