Humanity Star


Humanity Star was a passive satellite designed to produce flares visible from Earth. Its shape was a geodesic sphere about in diameter, similar to a large disco ball. It was launched into polar orbit on an Electron rocket by Rocket Lab in January 2018 and reentered the atmosphere on 22 March 2018. According to Rocket Lab, it was meant to be "a bright symbol and reminder to all on Earth about our fragile place in the universe".

Launch and orbit

Humanity Star was launched on 21 January 2018 at 01:43 UTC from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, located on the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand.
It orbited the Earth every 92 minutes in a polar orbit of approximately in altitude. According to Rocket Lab, the satellite's orbit was expected to decay after nine months, eventually burning up completely in Earth's atmosphere. However, the satellite re-entered several months early on 22 March 2018 at about 13:15 UTC.

Visibility

Because of its highly reflective surface, Rocket Lab claimed Humanity Star could be seen by the naked eye from the surface of the Earth. Its apparent brightness was estimated to be magnitude 7.0 when half illuminated and viewed from a distance of, while its maximum brightness was estimated to be magnitude 1.6.
The satellite was most likely to be visible in the night sky at dawn or dusk. Its orbit could be tracked at Heavens-Above and at the satellite's website.

Reactions

Initial reactions by astronomers were negative, since reflective objects in orbit can interfere with astronomical observations. It has been described as an act of vandalism of the night sky, space graffiti, a "publicity stunt" and "glittery space garbage". Others argue that flares by existing satellites and the ISS are much brighter than Humanity Star.
Alice Gorman suggests that Humanity Star and Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster are statements with very different but related messages: while Humanity Star may be seen as promoting a unifying vision and the Roadster as a reminder of inequality, "each tells the story of attitudes to space at a particular point in time."