SabreFan1 Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 If a Russian company has it's way, you may soon see Coca-Cola written in the sky, or McDonald's Golden Arches emblazoned next to your favourite constellation... https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/startup-wants-put-huge-ads-space-not-everyone-board-idea-ncna960296 Quote If it sometimes feels as if the world is awash in advertisements, just wait. A Russian startup just revealed plans to use swarms of tiny, light-reflecting satellites to create sprawling billboards in space. The first of StartRocket's space-based ads, shown in a new concept video released by the company last week, could go up by 2021. The ads — a bit like skytyping, only in low-Earth orbit rather than in the atmosphere — would be visible only at night but could be seen from just about anywhere on the planet. The ads would be created by an array of tiny satellites, each equipped with a reflective sail about 30 feet in diameter. As these "cubesats" orbit at an altitude of about 280 miles, sunlight would reflect off the sails to form luminous words or logos visible from the ground below. The company has a prototype cubesat already, and initial tests of space-based advertising could begin early next year, StartRocket CEO Vlad Sitnikov said in an email to NBC News MACH. The company hasn’t revealed details about which rocket would deliver the satellites into orbit or how much it would charge clients to advertise. Sitnikov said the company’s plan for space-based advertising was inspired by the “disco ball” satellite launched into orbit in January 2018 by the Huntington Beach, California-based firm Rocket Lab. The “Humanity Star” satellite, put into space as an orbiting art project, circled the planet for two months before burning up in the atmosphere as it fell back toward Earth. Sitnikov said the boldness of the Humanity Star project led him to wonder: “What if we will invent a new media, the first media in orbit?” Not everyone shares Sitnikov’s enthusiasm for adding to the population of human-made objects in Earth orbit, which includes 1,400 functioning satellites. “Putting more satellites up there is going to cause more opportunities for collisions, and we don’t want that happening,” said John Crassidis, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University at Buffalo. “My biggest issue is that these objects are going to become space junk.” From defunct satellites and spent rocket parts to wayward tools and an astronaut’s glove, there’s already plenty of orbital debris up there. The U.S. Department of Defense tracks more than 500,000 pieces of space junk in orbit around Earth. Sitnikov said the cubesats might remain in orbit for up to a year, after which they would be remotely “deorbited” to burn up in the atmosphere. But Crassidis said the risks are too high. “It’s not serving any good purpose outside of advertising,” he said. “I’m not a big fan of this at all.” StartRocket’s plan could also raise scientific as well as logistical concerns. “You would find strong responses from the astronomy and science community,” said space law expert Joanne Gabrynowicz, a professor emerita at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. “Scientists will argue that this reflected light interferes with the ability to study the skies. And if it interferes with science, that is harmful.” Sitnikov, however, is undeterred. “If you ask about critics of advertising and entertainment in space in general — haters gonna hate,” he said. “We are developing a new medium. In the beginning of television no one loved [ads] at all.” The U.S. outlawed space-based advertising in 1993, but Gabrynowicz said no such ban is in place in Russia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48MPHSlapShot Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 And nothing of significance came of it. The end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 3 minutes ago, 48MPHSlapShot said: And nothing of significance came of it. The end. I hope you're right. I'm not a fan of the idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Bad enough in the Space Shuttle days, they had Aerospace firms logos plastered around. So you knew who was sponsoring the research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Today's lunar orbit coverage sponsored by Tesla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishopshodan Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 8 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said: Today's lunar orbit coverage sponsored by Tesla. He's already going after Mars Planet Musk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 Personally I doubt it will ever happen. The potential program ending roadblocks alone are enough to scare off investors. All it would take is a stroke of Putin's pen to destroy that company for one. That doesn't even include the potential backlash towards companies who would advertise in this way. Companies get frightened enough as it is over hollow threats of boycott whispers on social media. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewbieCanuckFan Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Alf shaved his chest by mistake once and was open to advertising there but sadly no takers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberts Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 well as long as you can't see them through rainclouds it wont be a problem for the Vancouver area Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckylager Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 I would boycott any brand arrogant enough to do that. A forever type of boycott. I already have a dislike for the sleazy marketing and advertising crowd, this would take my dislike to rage level resentment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taskicon Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 I would literally burn down the closest store if a company tried to take away any of my view of space. I think this is the worst ad campaign idea of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just1CupB4IDie Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 As I'm sitting on my south facing deck at night, enjoying the peace and quiet, watching the stars and the white snow geese in a V, I do not want to see the Golden Arches , ruining my ambience...eff that noise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 So much for Friday nights at the beach with a telescope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckylager Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 1 hour ago, taskicon said: I would literally burn down the closest store if a company tried to take away any of my view of space. I think this is the worst ad campaign idea of all time. You're awesome. I'd join you in the arson campaign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toni Zamboni Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 im gonna need to upgrade my ad blocker plus i guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 25 minutes ago, Toni Zamboni said: im gonna need to upgrade my ad blocker plus i guess. uBlock Origin is better than Adblock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentSam Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 2 hours ago, Just1CupBeforeIDie said: As I'm sitting on my south facing deck at night, enjoying the peace and quiet, watching the stars and the white snow geese in a V, I do not want to see the Golden Arches , ruining my ambience...eff that noise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chon derry Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 So the hockey players finally ran out of space on their uniforms and equipment ,the rinks have no more room , this was inevitable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toni Zamboni Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 3 hours ago, SabreFan1 said: uBlock Origin is better than Adblock. yeah, i actually use ublock.....the joke isnt quite the same though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Lock Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Problems I have with both the article and this idea: 1. What exactly kind of people do they expect to advertise to? Astronomers? 2. If there's enough room for 7 billion people on Earth, I don't think there will be an issue with hundreds more satellites in an area LARGER than the Earth's spherical land area. Yet, this comment about satellites running into each other is coming from someone in a university? That's just sad..... 3. I do agree though that space should be for science and not advertising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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