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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: 2) by NotSanguine on Tuesday April 16 2019, @09:28AM (2 children)
With lots of light pollution.
As such, there aren't very many stars visible on clear nights. I get to see a few stars, he Moon and occasionally Venus, but that's about it. I really like having those celestial objects visible to me in the night sky.
But I'd rather do without them altogether than have to see this garbage.
Perhaps someone can come up with (kind of like an ad blocker) a process to make the sky overcast when these billboards are supposed to be lit up.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 16 2019, @12:47PM (1 child)
There's more to light pollution than one might think.
You mention the city.. and yeah, it's already lit up! Hard to see the stars, the moon seems MUCH dimmer than in rural areas. Especially ones far from the city.
So what does this mean?
Well.. to profit, you want this to be viewable from the city too. It's of little use to have this orbital evil, only viewable in the countryside. So it must be BRIGHT! And probably VERY bright.
But that means that in the country? It will probably be as bright, if not brighter, than the moon.
So there's the thing. Many, many animals use the moon for mating cycles, flocking cycles, all sorts of other things. And the ocean?
When I had a marine tank, I eventually decided to buy 'moon lights'. They track the actual cycle of the moon, in terms of brightness and 'when it is up'. And all of a sudden, out of no where, my fish tank became *alive* at night.
And when it was 'full moon'? All sorts of things started to spawn, creatures came out of nowhere, my tank suddenly had new life appearing, which before had either been dormant, or recently imported with new rock/coral purchases -- and would now reproduce successfully.
Even the corals became 'more alive' at night, and behaved in ways they did not before (many corals are actually 'animals').
Anyhow.
Point is.
What of all of this, with a NEW MOON in the sky. And one that doesn't even follow any 28 day cycle?
A lot of people depend upon fish. And fish depend upon many of the tiny critters I mention above! And those tiny critters eat algae, and so on.
This damned fool thing could literally screw up entire species!
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 16 2019, @01:38PM
Who cares? There's money to be made!
And there's nothing more important than that. amirite?
That's the problem with these damn libruls!
Ecosystems. Fah! Biodiversity. Bullshit!
All this regulatory red tape is just pinko socialist insanity. The FDA. A bunch of leeches. If I want to sell my super-duper cancer cure (now with even more polonium!) or my works-every-time baldness cure, and especially my DixBigger men's issue solution, I should able to do so without government interference. Let the market decide!
And all this ridiculous EPA regulation. Everybody needs more mercury and lead in their food and water anyway. Who are these bureaucrats to tell me I can't dump my battery acid into rivers? Pencil pushing morons! I'm a job creator, dammit! But noooo! I have to "safely dispose" of that stuff. What a bunch of ridiculous bullshit. That costs me money, you know!
And don't forget about those fascists over at the Department of Agriculture! Cleanliness requirements. Hah! I have to shell out for hair nets, soap and other cleaning supplies. Ridiculous! E-Coli? It doesn't exist. I certainly can't see it.
And don't even get me started on all the red tape involved in chemical manufacturing. With a river right next to the plant, why should I have truck the leftovers over to some "safe disposal" area? I'll tell you why. Because those thrice damned deep state scum are lining their pockets and that of their buddies, charging me to process the stuff. Ugh!
It's a wonder anyone can run a business in this country! Commie bastards!
We need to get rid of all this stupid regulation!