A Russian examine claims that flying a formation of cubesats to create adverts within the night time sky might be economically viable, with every solar sail-carrying satellite projecting a pixel of a message to cities beneath.
The examine, by a staff of researchers from Skolkovo Institute of Science and Know-how in Moscow and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Know-how, checked out using 344 square-foot (32 sq. meters) solar sails that might be connected to the cubesats and angled to mirror daylight, every forming a pixel within the sky. Such giant reflectors have by no means been deployed on cubesats earlier than, however the examine discovered the answer possible, concluding {that a} fleet of fifty such satellites could be best for such promoting campaigns. When passing overhead above a goal metropolis at altitudes of between 300 to 600 miles (500 to 1,000 kilometers), the formation would mild up, displaying vibrant messages to the residents beneath.
