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'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake star into sky

theguardian.com

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Re: 'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake star into sky

#3
post #2

Do you want regulations? This is how you get regulations. Once low Earth orbit is easily accessible to anyone, what can be done? There are all kinds of intentional and unintentional misuses of such a capability.

There is a metric ton of regulation you can’t launch anything into space without going thorough a mile of red tape.

Apparently no one consulted astronomers with this case most likely as no one expected a use case where someone launches a freaking disco ball into low earth orbit.

Re: 'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake star into sky

#6

> director of astrobiology at Columbia University Caleb Scharf wrote in Scientific American, the star represented "another invasion of my personal universe" There's hyperbole, and then there's comments like that. His "personal universe"?

Honestly I dont see a problem with this statement. People have their own sphere, domain, topic that they are engrossed in and love over everything. He just happened to call it his personal universe (which I think is pretty fitting)

Re: 'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake star into sky

#8
post #2

Do you want regulations? This is how you get regulations. Once low Earth orbit is easily accessible to anyone, what can be done? There are all kinds of intentional and unintentional misuses of such a capability.

Do we not have a global regulating body for what people can put in LEO? Cause I'm gonna have to say yes on this one.

A 9-month occasional bright light in the sky is a brief annoyance for astronomers, but avoiding the Kessler Syndrome should be a global imperative.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome

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