No Billboards in Space 380
An anonymous reader writes "CNN is reporting that 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." From the article: "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."
Huh? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Funny)
Zapping (Score:3, Funny)
Ah, the pleasure of shutting down ads with nuclear weapons... It gives the concept of zapping an entirely new meaning!
Re:Zapping (Score:3, Funny)
In
We need them! (Score:2)
Re:Huh? (Score:4, Funny)
Stick an oversized billboard in space and the next
thing you know, some hillbilly country with nukler
tipped missiles will be taking pot-shots at it.
Shebang!
Next thing you know, there goes the whole neighborhood...
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Interesting)
Not to mention the proliferation of space junk.
I wasn't aware that the US owned space.
Wow, even when we propose keeping space clean, you just can't pass up the chance to do a little US-bashing, can you?
Re:Huh? (Score:4, Insightful)
- I wasn't aware that the US owned space. -
Wow, even when we propose keeping space clean, you just can't pass up the chance to do a little US-bashing, can you?
Heheh. Yeah, you are right. Over the last years the US has been such a formidable world-citizen that that comment was certainly uncalled for.
I'm sure the US will try everything it can to keep space clean. From non-US stuff. *ducks*
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Insightful)
So yes, if just the US outlaws this, it's silly, but it could be a step toward something more meaningful.
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Insightful)
Meaningful?!?!?! What was the last space ad you saw?!?! Get real. This is just plain old silly.
Now if they were to outlaw the sodium lights, that would be meaningful to astronomers....
B.
Re:Huh? (Score:4, Interesting)
As to space ads... never underestimate the budget of an advertising department
SB
Because... (Score:3, Informative)
Low Pressure Sodium lights are almost completely monochromatic at 589nm, that characteristic yellow-orange color. High Pressure Spdium lights include some other elements (thus colors), but still have a very limited spectrum. The result is that it is almost impossible to se
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Insightful)
So far as I'm concerned, the best time to kill it is before somebody is making money off it. By that point, whoever it is will feel entitled to some sort of compromise.
Perhaps the US cannot unilaterally legislate "no billboards in space," but we can say, "nothing advertised in space may be sold in the US" which may be effective enough.
Astronomers aren't my greatest concern. The fact is, looking straight up into the sky is about th
Don't read the news much, huh? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Insightful)
Besides, this is a good thing. It was only a matter of time until somebody started doing it...
How far up? (Score:3)
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Interesting)
True, but I can't be the only one who's a little disgusted that advertising is so invasive and prevalent that something like this can even be considered a possibility in the first place.
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
**My Opinion, brought to you by X10**
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Interesting)
Forget about Heinlein and other authors who have talked about this before (which unfortunately was only brought up by one enlightened
In 1993, Arnold Schwarzenegger, as part of the advertiseing for the movie "Last Action Hero", had his name put on the side of a rocket that went up to LEO.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Schwarze n egger+roc [google.com]
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
That comic book, Spirou et Fantasio, "Z comme Zorglub", was drawn at the end of the 50'ies.
Re:Huh? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Funny)
H.
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
all countries had terratorial waters extending from thier coast. Exactly how far wasn't clearly defined until later but there were certainly areas of water that noone could seriously dispute were not under the control of any country in particular.
imo any height that can only be realistically maintained by orbit should be considered outside of a countries airspace at least for now.
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Interesting)
LK
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Informative)
If that were true, the Soviet Union would not have been able to fly over U.S. territory and vice-versa. It was a deliberate choice Eisenhower made in 1955 when he proposed his "Open Skies" initiative. When Sputnik flew a few years later, he didn't complain about its flying over US territory because he wanted the right to do the same thing. In 1960 when Corona flew, it made a hash of the fear that the Soviets had an advantage over us and enabled Eisenhower to focus on domestic issues instead of meeting a non-existant military threat.
Outer space is open to whomever can get there.
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
Instead of inter-continental ballistic missiles. It should be called AAM, Air-to-Ad-Missiles.
Launch sites. (Score:5, Insightful)
Of course, there's virtually nothing they can do if an LEO craft is launched from some other location and meanders over the U.S. from time to time.
Perhaps they could do something if it were placed in a geostationary orbit over the U.S. but then it wouldn't be in LEO.
Re:Launch sites. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Launch sites. (Score:3, Funny)
No such thing as "geostationary orbit over the US" (Score:2)
These things have to be solved with international treaties (which would be easy enough to get, because people in other countries don't want this kind of crap any more than Americans do), unfortunately the party in power hates the idea of treaties so they'd rather assert US authority to con
Re:No such thing as "geostationary orbit over the (Score:4, Informative)
That's virtually impossible. If my math is right, an advertisement in geosynchronous orbit would have to be about 325km accross in order to be the same size as the moon. Since it'd have to be at least semi-ridged (and assuming it was square), the cost of building a sign with a surface area of 105625 square kilometers would be enormous.
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
For more please refer to Eddie Izzard [angelfire.com].
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
We all know how well THAT turned out!
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Funny)
The whole thing reminds me of a 20 or 30 year old Playboy cartoon though. Two guys are standing on a highrise balcony looking at the moon, which, instead of "The Man in the Moon" displays a Playboy rabbit head logo and one is saying to the other:
"I wonder how much it cost him?"
I guess it'll mean war with the Lunatics when they actually do it, for deploying Weapons o
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
Then the US will use it's power to get other countries to follow this law as well.
Just so you know the US has a lot of political and economic power. Of course some will complain even when the US uses this power for something positive.
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Insightful)
It would be silly to say that the US owns space. That would be like saying that it owns, oh, Iraq. Historically nations have had "ownership" according to how far they can project force. The "three mile limit" for ocean ownership was determined by the range of shore guns. The USSR did not "own" its airspace until it proved that it could shoot down a U2 spy plane.
If the US Air Force succeds in militarizing space, the US may indeed "own" it. That may prove easier than "owning" Iraq.
On a separate topic, it seems to me that a LEO banner would be visible mostly at dusk or dawn. How would it be lit in the middle of the night? Reflection from terrestrial lights maybe, or flourexcent paint?
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Interesting)
Don't you mean 0wnership?
On the subject of lighting - reflection from terrestrial light and fluorescent paint (which converts UV into visible light) wouldn't be enough. I suppose the back would be covered in solar cells, which would charge batteries when the sign was on the day-side, and the batteries would power lights on the night-side. (If that's not enough, power could *theoretically* bebeamed from Earth - hmm, may
Enforcement (Score:2)
Then put the people responsible into jail. ( hopefully forever )
We dont own space? Prove it.
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
Buy Jupiter (Score:2)
So we could still make a deal if aliens drop by wanting to buy Jupiter [mac.com].
Buy Jupiter, but leave at least one moon. (Score:5, Funny)
>
> So we could still make a deal if aliens drop by wanting to buy Jupiter. [mac.com]
Jupiter? Yeah, we at AlienClick [mttp://1.3.9.27.81.243] can do that. In fact, all these worlds can be yours for $39.99 per line, except Europa, which has been reserved by a prior bidder.
The DOT needs to do the same (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:The DOT needs to do the same (Score:2, Funny)
I forget where it was, but I recently read a claim (by some advertiser, IIRC--go figure) that these huge billboards in rural interstate and interstate-ish driving help drivers by breaking the monotony .
No, I don't really believe it ... but I really just read this somewhere. Wish I could find the source now...
Re:The DOT needs to do the same (Score:2, Insightful)
curvy roads keep our attention.
Re:The DOT needs to do the same (Score:2)
.shpoffo
Re:The DOT needs to do the same (Score:2, Insightful)
If you're going to die in the line of duty, you want it to be rescuing an infant from a burning hospital, not getting it in the back because Levron lost his favorite hi-tops.
Astronomers?! (Score:2)
Re:Astronomers?! (Score:5, Insightful)
There'd probably be some significant protesting outside their HQ and whatnot. There would be calls for boycotting, which would probably gain some traction, as people become more and more tired of it.
If some company did it, and it was only visible up there for a few days, they'd get some serious publicity, and if they let it die while it was still a novelty, they'd get mostly good press and an excited public. I'd check a website to find out when it'd be overhead, and then go watch it pass over a few times. Just as long as it doesn't stay long enough to become an eyesore.
After a few of these advertisements happened, it'd cease to be a novelty, and the excitement of seeing one would wear off, and people would turn against them.
That's how I imagine it at least.
Re:Astronomers?! (Score:3, Funny)
Oh, wait, something's going overhead now:
'Erectile problems? Reach this sign with FREE VIAGRA!!!'
I'm glad we didn't regulate the skies...
In other news.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:In other news.. (Score:3, Informative)
I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of *any* nuclear payload, even if it is just a french one.
Re:In other news.. (Score:5, Funny)
The French don't have the Brits, we do. Get your facts straight.
Re:In other news.. (Score:2)
Which again includes the legion etrangere which has the best of both worlds: no french soldiers and a french command that has to take care of french lives only for the most part
Anyone who puts an advert in space... (Score:2)
Act like a twat, you'll be treated like a twat.
Disc-shaped ads... (Score:5, Funny)
Boogie Man (Score:2)
http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.as
oblig... (Score:2, Funny)
[presses a button raising a shield over the model town]
Re:Disc-shaped ads... (Score:3, Funny)
Hmm .. I think you may have struck upon the answer to global warming, just have dozens of orbiting ads that block the sun for a few hours total each day ..
Country's flags (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Country's flags (Score:2, Funny)
Seriously though, why would China do this? *boggle* To advertise their government: "Look everybody, its Communism Lite, now with half the fanatical controlling of markets for the priviledged few!"
Meanwhile, back in the 70s.. (Score:4, Funny)
"Sir! Sir! The Russians! The Commies have started to paint the moon red! What shall we do?!"
"Hmm...don't stop them. Load up a shuttle with white paint and when they are finished we'll go up and write 'Coca Cola' on it."
Science vs. The Almighty Buck...And Science Looses (Score:2)
I'm still waiting... (Score:4, Interesting)
Fiction because Fact (Score:3, Interesting)
Blade Runner (Score:3, Insightful)
Air Rights? (Score:2)
This is just silly. (Score:2)
The U.S. can't even control ground based advertisements and internet pop-ups within it's own borders. Why the hell is any government agency so wrapped up in make laws and regulations that don't even apply yet!
Well, if the FAA/FCC/[A-Z] agency won't help me crusade against idiotic advertising I'll do it on my own. I think I could make a living at it even.
That's right. I'm changing my profession to assasin for hire. I'll find out who is responsible to stupid, korny, and plain anno
Re:This is just silly. (Score:2, Insightful)
But then, so does subsequent private development of anti-orbital-advertising technology. I wonder how much gunpowder it would take to lob a lead slug to orbital altitude. Doesn't actually need to go into orbit. In fact, it's more likely to do damage if you let the satellite billboard come to it.
Of course, one slug wouldn't do it. You'd need the equivalent of grape shot to have a significant effect.
Might?! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Might?! (Score:4, Insightful)
Pardon, but there's a slightly bigger issue, which is how disgusting the concept is. Photographs of the great outdoors? Brought to you by Nikon and Kodak. Night out camping? Brought to you by Hummer, buy one for your next trip and get there in style. Advertisements will universally become part of the landscape. It's so horrifyingly commercial, it makes me want to throw up. That you wouldn't be able to see Star XYZ is, sorry, rather secondary.
I keep waiting for the backlash, and I never see it. First it was the horizon with billboards. Then product placement (no, it's not a new trend, it's been around since the advent of TV). Then clothing. Most recently, people's bodies. Now we're talking about throwing up giant billboards so that you'll have to go inside to avoid them. Where will we stop? When will the backlash begin?
I've noticed that many "futuristic" movies have had floating advertisements in space/the sky (a few that come to mind- Judge Dread, The Fifth Element, and I believe Blade Runner, to name a few) and I think it was almost intended to get us used to the concept. I seriously hope it backfired, sickening people. I know it made my stomach turn.
Thankfully I think this is one area the conservative right will be with us on- they're probably even more horrified of "God's kingdom" being defiled than we are.
Re:Might?! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Might?! (Score:2, Insightful)
WTF...? (Score:2)
Loophole (Score:2, Interesting)
What do our libertarians say? (Score:2)
After all, if you own some physical property, it seems that you can do with it as you wish, especially if it is in space, which is not anyone's property.
Re:What do our libertarians say? (Score:2)
For that matter, who says a private party can't make their own colony on Mars/etc where slavery, child prostitution, et al bad earth things, are legal? And call themselves King of Olympus Mons, and nuke anyone
Seems that's human history, people move on and do their own thing - so if someone launches an exterrestrial Nike ad, I can blast it if I can reach it.
I swear... (Score:2, Interesting)
Good try, though.
Re:I swear... (Score:2)
If this was a news story about how the FAA was going to allow this as opposed to banning it, all comments would be "Yet another US govt agency helping the corporations".
I actually was surprised to read this because I would expect the opposite to happen, if you would have asked me yesterday.
-Fran
Zero gravity? (Score:2, Insightful)
Old and silly Joke (Score:5, Funny)
After a little contemplation the man replied: "Take a bucket of white paint to the moon and write Coca Cola on it."
Dilbert? (Score:2)
Blocking progress (Score:3, Insightful)
Religion can't stop suicide, but it can stop stem cell research.
I'm so damn confused.
Won't it be nice when nationalism fades?
The rules (Score:2, Funny)
2) arrive armed
There! you own space! Works for solar systems, planets, moons, asteroids. Quite simple, really.
I was hoping to make a fortune selling rocket-propelled 'adblockers' but now I have to think of another get-rich-quick scheme.
Inevitably... (Score:2, Funny)
What?!? No "CHA" on the moon? (Score:5, Funny)
SPOON!!!!
uhhh... Zero Gravity? (Score:3, Insightful)
I can see the headlines now... (Score:3, Funny)
Don't give Spammers any more ideas (Score:2)
The spammers, indubitably, have been alerted to yet another advertising medium (Space, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the spamship, Gator...).
Why? why? why, did you open your mouth, FCC?
Hmm... (Score:2)
CHA-
Aw, crap, some superheroes blew up the laser.
Hmm... (Score:2)
Wal-Mart: Making Your Winters Longer!
Moon Sponsored by Pepsi(TM)... (Score:3, Funny)
Mercury is being presented to you this evening by the new Oral-B Thermometer.
Venus is being presented to you by Arista Records... home to Abba! (1)
The Earth is being presented to you this evening by Miracle-Gro. Your lawn will thank you.
Mars is being presented to you this evening by M&M/ Mars Candies. Because sometimes you feel like a nut!
Jupiter is being presented to you this evening by Jupiter Research, because we really really want to know what you think!
Saturn is being presented to you this evening by On Star! Who will call 9-1-1 when *your* airbags deploy?
Neptune is being presented to you this evening by Microsoft. When do you want your computer to crash, today?
Uranus is being presented to you this evening by Preparation-H. It's not just for removing bags from a model's eyes you know!
Pluto is being presented to you this evening by Walt Disney World. Celebrate the magic!
--
(1) Who gives a shit if Abba is signed with Arista or not. Don't be so anal-retentive.
How big an ad? (Score:2)
Let's say the ad orbits at the same altitude as the space shuttle -- around 185 miles (~300 km). If the banner subtends half a degree of arc -- the same as the moon -- it would have to be about 3.2 miles long (assuming I did my trig right). I think we could probably produce some k
Re:Commie advertisements? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Rats. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:The USA owns space? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Does this law really matter? (Score:2)
1. Don't worry about if this law really matters.
2. Don't worry about how much of our tax dollars were spent on this.