Science

orangecrush

(19,581 posts) Sat Jan 19, 2019, 12:58 PM Jan 2019

This Russian startup wants to put huge ads in space. Not everyone is on board with the idea.

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.

StartRocket's space-based ads would be visible only at night but could be seen from just about anywhere on Earth.StartRocket
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.

https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/amp/ncna960296

9 replies

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This Russian startup wants to put huge ads in space. Not everyone is on board with the idea. (Original Post) orangecrush Jan 2019 OP

among other problems, that would seem to be a huge problem for astronomers flyingfysh Jan 2019 #1

Agree 100%. orangecrush Jan 2019 #2

That is so wrong - visual pollution of the worst kind RainCaster Jan 2019 #3

It's horrible orangecrush Jan 2019 #7

What other devious ways can humans find to obliterate nature, defacto7 Jan 2019 #4

I would hope orangecrush Jan 2019 #8

Buy Jupiter ! eppur_se_muova Jan 2019 #5

... orangecrush Jan 2019 #6

I see what you did there... Wounded Bear Jan 2019 #9

flyingfysh

(1,990 posts)

1. among other problems, that would seem to be a huge problem for astronomers

Reply to orangecrush (Original post)

Sat Jan 19, 2019, 01:09 PM

Jan 2019

They have enough problems already with light pollution interfering with their work. Now we have these stupid satellites getting in the way of what they need to see.

Besides, shouldn't people have the right to see the night sky without all this junk? Any company that makes a deal with them needs to be boycotted into oblivion.

orangecrush

(19,581 posts)

2. Agree 100%.

Reply to flyingfysh (Reply #1)

Sat Jan 19, 2019, 01:12 PM

Jan 2019

It will be a sad day for mankind if thus is allowed to happen.

RainCaster

(10,892 posts)

3. That is so wrong - visual pollution of the worst kind

Reply to orangecrush (Original post)

Sat Jan 19, 2019, 01:22 PM

Jan 2019

Fugly
Stupid
Poorly thought out
</rant>
Think about this for a moment. If you are offended by those billboards along freeways, this is far worse. Nobody can escape the reach of this firm of advertising. It is a worldwide advert that is the exact same experience for everyone. Imagine if Pepsi paid for ad space on every opening page of every website in the world. It's easy to see how ludicrous that is - it's not targeted, or localized in any way. That would be a large waste of money and could offend a large part of the market. There is no way to guarantee that a certain geographic region can see this at a specific time, because of weather conditions.

How many indigenous groups around the world would be offended to see a logo drawn on their sacred moon?