Have you ever thought of putting your advertisements on space? Since the Apollo era, the idea of space-based advertising has been around, but no one has made it possible yet. 

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This photograph shows antennae, part of the NOEMA (Northern Extended Millimeter Array) radio telescope on the « Plateau de Bure » in Saint-Etienne-en-Devoluy near the Superdevoluy resort, on September 20, 2022.

However, things may be about to change with a new study that suggests that a billboard-like constellation of around 50 satellites could shine ads to every corner of the planet for months, according to TechCrunch.

The study was conducted by the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT). It presented a compelling case brought on by SpaceX's Starlink satellites that are highly visible. 

The study proposes sending a constellation of about 50 satellites at a 12U CubeSat volume. They will enter the sun-synchronous orbit, which means they will be in direct sunlight as they pass around the Earth. 

Once they are in orbit, they will deploy large reflectors to bounce sunlight down toward the Earth. They could be tilted in a way to best present the sunlight to a specific area. From the ground, this would appear to be a group of stars moving in synchrony for three to five minutes. 

The satellites can also rearrange themselves in patterns and de-orbit after one to three months, based on various factors. 

The cost of the mission is $65 million, which most of the funds will go to the manufacturing of 50 satellites, testing, support and engineering, and launch. 

However, there is more to these that should be considered, such as the regions, times of the year, and more. The most optimistic estimate of net income by researchers is around $111 million over three months and 24 displays. 

Also Read: SpaceX, Canada's GEC to Launch 'Space Ads' That People Can Watch Live, and Buy Using Dogecoin

How Possible is This?

The possibility of this happening isn't too far-fetched, especially since the existing satellites we have today are visible. These satellites are also arranged already, which makes the study even more possible. 

Now, the question is-do people want to see these ads on space? Sure, this may be interesting at first, but it could turn into nonchalance soon enough. That's why it's a huge gamble for the first company to advertise among the stars. 

It could also turn out to be a huge mess if the constellation is not aligned properly and the ad becomes illegible. Again, there is the chance that this is a huge flop and the campaign was far from being successful. Nonetheless, the study shows that space-based advertising is actually possible now.  

This is especially true considering the growing presence of CubeSats, which are generally smaller satellites that can be used for space research. Space-based advertising has become more practical over the years, with the rise of CubeSats and the entry of SpaceX into the industry.

Related Article: Japanese Startup iSpace Wants To Put Billboards On The Moon: Ads In Space Coming Soon?

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Written by April Fowell