Advertising tactics: Startup plans to launch huge glowing ads in sky

Since space exploration is growing rapidly these days, a new startup wishes to launch a new way of advertising by showing up billboard-style ads up in the night sky via satellites.

According to a Russian startup StartRocket, it will soon display huge billboard-style ads up in night skies with the help of a collection of small cubesats satellites, a project it calls the ‘Orbital Display’. The firm believes this idea to be the next logical step in advertising, reported Futurism.

Project leader Vlad Sitnikov said, “We are ruled by brands and events; the Super Bowl, Coca Cola, Brexit, the Olympics, Mercedes, FIFA, Supreme and the Mexican wall. The economy is the blood system of society.

“Entertainment and advertising are at its heart. We will live in space, and humankind will start delivering its culture to space. The more professional and experienced pioneers will make it better for everyone.”

Video Courtesy: Vlad Sitnikov via Vimeo

The company claims that its cubesats will orbit at an altitude of 400-500km and will only be visible from the ground for about six minutes at a time, delivering 3-4 messages/images per day. According to StartRocket, it will launch the Orbital Display by 2020, and begin displaying ads in the night sky by 2021.

The company described ways the technology can be used which includes entertainment where complementary messages or images from the orbit will be displayed during global events. It can also be used to display important information to the public such as logos and special product offers from various brands. Also, this project can be used for emergency purposes when phones don’t work, or power breakdowns or catastrophical emergencies where it can display urgent information for the public.

Though the firm didn’t share the exact price of a space advertisement, but believed that the brands will pay for the ads since the ‘ego is brighter than the sun’. However, as per an attorney specializing in space and satellite law, Randy Segal, this project might run into regulatory hurdles since these satellites might interfere with aviation safety, as per Futurism.