Fake Star Advertising. How far will they go?

How do you get people talking about yourself when launching a spacecraft? Elon MuskElon Musk He has good ideas: A. invents A one-way trip to Mars or Charge your own car In the galaxy. Rocket laboratorya young private New Zealand company, is conducting its second test flight Electron launcherElectron launcher, he’s just found someone else: an advertising star. She secretly took her place during the launch on January 21 alongside the other three CubeSatCubeSat It should remain in orbit for nine months.

The concept, worthy of an April Fools’ joke, consists of rotating around a semi-spherical structure about one meter in diameter, made up of 65 sides and covered with reflective material. a light sunsun You’ll do the rest. Thus, the machine is visible from the ground, as is the machine International Space Station (International Space StationInternational Space Station) as well as many satellites, including those belonging to constellationconstellation IridiumIridiumresponsible for BlinksBlinks Brief but very powerful. It was installed in an approximately polar orbit (83° inclination with respect toequatorequator), this object will be observable at almost any point on Earth, at one time or another.

Peter Beck, president of the company, explains on the website dedicated to “ Star of humanity » (It means “the star of humanity” no less) that everyone will be able to see this light “It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, rich or poor, in conflict or in peace.”. The site also lets you know when to monitor it over your home. So it’s about encouraging people to look at the sky, and mentally immerse themselves in the skybeingbeing And for “Think a little differently about their lives, their actions, and what’s important.”. In short, to do what sky lovers do every night.

Astronomers play angry

in general, Astronomy scientistsAstronomy scientists On the other hand, they seem to have little desire to exercise. “Fantastic: voluntary, illuminating, long-term writing in space DurationDuration from life. Thank you very much “, He commented bitterly on TwitterTwitter Mike Brown, of the California Institute of Technology, specializes in… Kuiper belt And the discoverer of many great things, including Iris. British newspaper Watchman He barely appreciates the operation, explaining that the launch was carried out “From an isolated sheep and cow farm” (Rocket Lab operates its own launch site at the end of… PeninsulaPeninsula Mahia, New Zealand). The astronomers interviewed by the newspaper were mainly critical.

Will the heavenly vault become an advertising medium, e.g WallsWalls For our cities, or even their sidewalks? This is what those who do not like this process fear. Astronomers remember, too Light pollutionLight pollutionwhich extinguishes the stars, so that the majority of humanity now lives in cities, and children grow up without seeing the sky.

History can also mention the first Earth satellite, Sputnik 1It is a large ball with four antennas that has no other function than to emit a whistling sound proving the success of this Soviet Union mission. Astronomers also mention the – very real – problem of debris accumulating in orbit. This ball is supposed to completely destroy itself in…AtmosphereAtmosphereBut is it certain?

If you are in a good mood, you can also plan to observe the passage of this point of light with family or friends, at the same time, perhaps, withInternational Space Station Or a flash of iridium, before focusing on a few constellations or a planet…