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Take a cluster of cubesats, shoot them into orbit, outfit them with sunlight reflecting mylar sails, and spell out PEPSI.
Yes, they are working on it.
A Russian company called StartRocket says it’s going to launch a cluster of cubesats into space that will act as an “orbital billboard,” projecting enormous advertisements into the night sky like artificial constellations. And its first client, it says, will be PepsiCo — which will use the system to promote a “campaign against stereotypes and unjustified prejudices against gamers” on behalf of an energy drink called Adrenaline Rush.
Typical reactions toward the idea are as cool as interstellar space, for example when discussed on futurism's forums individuals opined
“This startup made an AI read every dystopian fiction novel and is turning its cursed ramblings into business plans,” wrote one. Another said that “shooting down those ads should be legal.”
StartRocket has now successfully tested the idea out by launching one of their reflectors from a helium balloon into space where it was visible from the ground.
StartRocket plans to launch the system into orbit in 2021. It’s currently raising funds, it says — and a $20,000 investment will buy eight hours of advertising in the night sky.
Hopefully we can use them to project the Milky Way so people can see the stars again.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by sjames on Tuesday April 16 2019, @07:04AM (3 children)
Hack the cubesats, display a few really offensive messages, then de-orbit the lot of them.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday April 16 2019, @07:24AM
LOL.
In Soviet Russia, the Russians hack you.
just in case you didn't notice: "A Russian company called StartRocket"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 5, Informative) by zocalo on Tuesday April 16 2019, @07:31AM
Here's the thing though - remember a company called Swarm Technologies that launched a bunch of satellites [theverge.com] without permission? International treaties require that states are responsible for authorising what goes into orbit, and in this case that probably means Russia (unless StartRocket asks SpaceX or someone else to launch this crap). The question isn't whether StartRocket and Pepsi are dumb enough to think this is a good idea, it's whether Russia thinks the inevitable condemnation from the global scientific community, other governments, space agencies, and various other groups, is worth whatever they think they'll get out of approving it.
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 4, Funny) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday April 16 2019, @06:09PM
For once, the sky is falling is the solution and not the problem!