By Loren Grush
theverge.com
Peter Beck with the Humanity Star. Photo: Rocket Lab
Back in January, the American space venture Rocket Lab discreetly deployed a compact, mirror-covered satellite into orbit as part of an artistic cosmic initiative designed to encourage people to unite and gaze skyward. However, following a mere two-month stay in space, that satellite—dubbed the Humanity Star—has descended back to Earth and disintegrated within the atmosphere. This marks an early conclusion to the object's lifespan, which proved far more divisive than the company had anticipated.
No satellite residing in low Earth orbit remains aloft indefinitely. Although these objects technically exist in space, a tenuous atmosphere persists at altitudes up to 300 miles. Consequently, satellites in low orbits face constant impacts from minuscule atmospheric particles, which gradually push them closer to Earth until gravity pulls them back down. Vehicles equipped with thrusters can compensate for this drag as long as their fuel holds out. Yet ultimately, every satellite must descend and incinerate in the atmosphere.
The Humanity Star lacked thrusters, but Rocket Lab had projected it would remain aloft for nine months post-launch. According to The Atlantic, satellite-monitoring websites—and even Rocket Lab’s own platform—indicated a rapid drop in altitude a few days ago. So what caused this? The firm attributes the project’s abbreviated timeline to the satellite’s design and mass. The Humanity Star was (or is no longer) a three-foot-wide sphere constructed from 76 triangular panels, weighing a mere 18 pounds. This makes it a compact, lightweight satellite with a considerable surface area relative to its mass. Essentially a hollow ball, it proved more vulnerable to atmospheric drag than a denser, heavier spacecraft.
A spherical configuration is also uncommon for satellites, complicating predictions about its longevity, the company explains. “There’s scarce data regarding geodesic spheres—how long they typically remain in orbit or when they might re-enter on their own,” Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s CEO, tells The Verge. “So it’s always been challenging to estimate.” Beck added that nine months was intended as the upper limit for the Humanity Star’s orbital duration.
The company asserted that the sphere’s reflective surfaces made it the most luminous object in the night sky, allowing people to step outside and observe its twinkling whenever it passed overhead. Beck says the aim was to recreate an experience he had as a child when his father took him outdoors to view the stars, prompting him to ponder whether humanity is alone in the universe. “The entire purpose of the project was to encourage people to look upward—not just at the Humanity Star, but beyond it—and to share that same sense of wonder I felt,” he states.
However, certain astronomers viewed the Humanity Star as a form of light pollution or “space graffiti”—a bright, purposeless object that interfered with astronomical observations. At night, scientists strive to capture highly detailed images of the cosmos using large ground-based telescopes. Satellites move at tremendous speeds in orbit, so whenever one crosses a telescope’s field of view, it can leave a long, luminous streak across an image.
“The odds of that happening are low, but given the sheer number of satellites and astronomers conducting observations, streaks are common,” Andy Howell, an astronomer with the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, tells The Verge. “I’m okay with that if the satellites serve a useful purpose—we all rely on communications. But for a publicity stunt aimed at drawing attention, that’s genuinely frustrating.” Beck counters that the satellite’s orbit kept it low on the horizon, reducing its interference. “We were definitely cautious about that, and we designed it as a short-term project,” he says.
Others objected to the satellite’s supposed “mission.” Rocket Lab’s goal was to evoke awe and fascination with the night sky, yet “that artificial object in orbit doesn’t resonate with me,” Meg Schwamb, an assistant scientist at Gemini Observatory, tells The Verge. “It might for some people, but… should one individual’s perspective dictate what we launch into space? Is space truly a canvas for art?”
This raises a compelling question, particularly given the timing of the Humanity Star’s deployment. The satellite went up just a month before SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launch, which sent a Tesla roadster into an orbit around the Sun. Granted, the car’s trajectory makes it highly unlikely to ever approach Earth again, but its launch ignited a debate about whether wealthy CEOs can simply place whatever they like into space, even if it lacks scientific or economic value.
Beck maintains that Rocket Lab secured all required US government approvals before launching the satellite. (The company is headquartered in California.) He also notes that, despite the criticism, Rocket Lab received thousands of emails and messages from individuals who felt inspired after spotting the Humanity Star overhead. He welcomes dissenting opinions as well. “It sparked conversations about numerous issues—including the commercialization of space and the ability of companies to place objects in orbit,” Beck says. “Our aim was to generate a discussion.”
Yet some astronomers won’t mourn the Humanity Star’s demise. “I was glad when disco died the first time around. I’m happy to see it die again,” says Howell.
