I spent a summer in Washington fighting billboards (we called them "litter on a stick") but we never set our sights THIS high:
The Federal Aviation Administration proposed Thursday to amend its regulations to ensure that it can enforce a law that prohibits "obtrusive" advertising in zero gravity.
"Objects placed in orbit, if large enough, could be seen by people around the world for long periods of time," the FAA said in a regulatory filing.
Currently, the FAA lacks the authority to enforce the existing law.
For instance, outsized billboards deployed by a space company into low Earth orbit could appear as large as the moon and be seen without a telescope, the FAA said. Big and bright advertisements might hinder astronomers.
"Large advertisements could destroy the darkness of the night sky," regulators said.
I'll be amazed if capatalism can restrain itself enough to pull this off. With the Russian program chronically broke, this is one more lever they can use to get the US to pay more of the cost of the space station. Just like they used the two space tourists - notice how that has quieted down since Lance Bass got grounded?
But folks were of mixed mind on space tourism. It was perhaps unfair that a rich boy-bander cut to the front of the line for a space ticket. Hardly "The Right Stuff". The Right Hair Gel, maybe. But did it really HURT anyone? Not really, so opposition from the scientific community was muted and split.
On the other hand, lighting up the night sky with pitches for... what? What product would demand a literally global audience? I'm guessing the cola companies are already designing the satellite plans.
The live question is, how bad do we want it? This is a classic case where the self-interest of capitalism collides with the greater good. Is our government - THIS government - committed enough to science to ignore the profit motive?
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Look at the stem cell debate: this government is willing to squash both science and profit if the fundamentalists tell them to. How can we turn No Ads In Space into a religious right issue? Did Jesus say anything about it? Oh, wait; what He said has nothing to do with what James Dobson says.
Here's my modest proposal. No ads, but let Christo do some big ribbony modern art thing that a lot of people wouldn't get but would have a unique beauty. Let it would orbit the earth for a month or two then gently disintegrate in a firey re-entry. It would be like a one time global 4th of July fireworks (Guy Fawkes Day for the Brits).
Astronomers have fought losing battles against light pollution for decades, but I've never heard an astronomer argue against fireworks. My idea is intriguing, but if we lose the big battle that wouldn't be special. For now I'll settle for the occasional space station pass.
Tags: Space
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