A glittering sculpture is now in orbit and astronomers are furious
A rocket company launches an orbiting artwork for all the world to see, whether they want to or not.
The Humanity Star, pre-launch (Photo: Rocket Labs)
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Rocket Lab is a new California-based startup whose slogan is “Space is open for business.” It’s apparently open for art, too, since the company sent an orbital art installation, a shiny geodesic ball called “Humanity Star,” into orbit with the company’s first three satellites on January 21. Rocket Lab describes the piece as a “bright flashing shooting star” reminding us of what we all share. Some astronomers see it another way, referring to it in tweets as a “vanity star,” “graffiti,” ”vandalism,” “litter,” and, of course, an orbiting “disco ball.” Some see something even more sinister.
Anyone else feels like “humanity star” sounds kind of sinister? It’s like the “death star” had a rebrand.
— Guy Williams (@guywilliamsguy) January 25, 2018
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