Last week, a US-based company launched three commercial satellites into orbit but there was another secret satellite launched that will now become the ‘brightest thing in the night sky’.
The US spaceflight startup Rocket Lab launched these satellites during its rocket launch. Called the Humanity Star, the satellite was previously undisclosed and the company now recently announced of this disco ball shaped satellite lighting up night skies similar to how a disco ball light up clubs.
The satellite is a three foot wide carbon fiber sphere that is made up of 65 panels for reflecting the sunlight. Because it will spin in space, it will constantly bounce off the light from sun and will be so bright that people at Earth would be able to see it from naked eye and it won’t be just at specific locations, the satellite will orbit the Earth so everyone can see the probe at various times, reported The Verge.
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For people’s convenience, a website has been set up that will give real-time updates regarding the Humanity Star’s location so that people can know its position and look at it. Rocket Lab explains that the goal for this to ‘create a shared experience for everyone on the planet’. It will be a bright symbol and reminder to all on Earth about our fragile place in the universe.
CEO Peter Beck expressed, “No matter where you are in the world, rich or in poverty, in conflict or at peace, everyone will be able to see the bright, blinking Humanity Star orbiting Earth in the night sky. My hope is that everyone looking up at the Humanity Star will look past it to the expanse of the universe, feel a connection to our place in it and think a little differently about their lives, actions and what is important.”
However, this ‘space disco ball’ won’t be there forever, as per the company, the satellite’s orbit will decay after around nine months and will then fall back to Earth. It is likely to be visible from the US in the next couple of weeks.
“Wait for when the Humanity Star is overhead and take your loved ones outside to look up and reflect. You may just feel a connection to the more than seven billion other people on this planet we share this ride with.”