In addition to launching three Earth-watching satellites, Rocket Lab has sent up a satellite you can watch from Earth: a bright and shiny object christened Humanity Star.
Rocket Lab says Humanity Star, a geodesic sphere made of carbon fiber with 76 reflective panels, could well rank as the brightest satellite in the night sky.
“No matter where you are in the world, or what is happening in your life, everyone will be able to see the Humanity Star in the night sky,” Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said today in a news release. “My hope is that all those looking up at it will look past it to the vast expanse of the universe and think a little differently about their lives, actions and what is important for humanity.”
The satellite was launched on Saturday from Rocket Lab’s launch complex on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula, atop a low-cost Electron rocket.
The Electron also put two Spire Lemur-2 satellites into orbit to monitor weather and shipping traffic, plus a Planet Dove satellite for Earth imaging. The fact that Humanity Star was included as a payload wasn’t revealed until today.
Rocket Lab said the satellite is currently circling Earth every 90 minutes in a nearly pole-to-pole orbit, reflecting the sun’s light as it rotates rapidly. The result is a flashing effect that should be visible to the naked eye as the satellite soars over a given location.
Because of its orbital characteristics, the satellites should be visible from virtually any location on Earth over time. Over the course of the next nine months or so, atmospheric drag is expected cause its orbit to decay, and it will eventually go out in a blaze of glory during its descent through the atmosphere.
That serves as another philosophical point to ponder, courtesy of Humanity Star.
Rocket Lab says skywatchers will be able to track Humanity Star’s location and viewing opportunities at TheHumanityStar.com.
