Space Advertising Systems

I received this news item from the Astronomical League, and wanted to pass it
along.

Ed Flaspoehler, President
American Association of Amateur Astronomers
http://www.astromax.com

Memorandum for Council and Committees
Astronomical League
cc: IDA Board, Sections, and Affiliates

The CNN news link below describes a new form of space advertising. The
Astronomical League strongly opposes this project as a threat to the science of
astronomy. This was also discussed yesterday at the 2004 annual meeting of the
International Dark-Sky Association.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/0....ap/index.html


Robert L. Gent
President, Astronomical League
151 Somervelle Street
Alexandria, VA 22304-7731
USA
www.astroleague.org
A nonprofit, educational federation of
nearly 300 astronomical societies

On 14 Mar 2004 17:51:45 GMT, (EFLASPO) wrote:

I received this news item from the Astronomical League, and wanted to pass it
along.

Ed Flaspoehler, President
American Association of Amateur Astronomers
http://www.astromax.com

Memorandum for Council and Committees
Astronomical League
cc: IDA Board, Sections, and Affiliates

The CNN news link below describes a new form of space advertising. The
Astronomical League strongly opposes this project as a threat to the science of
astronomy. This was also discussed yesterday at the 2004 annual meeting of the
International Dark-Sky Association.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/0....ap/index.html

While I am sure that all of us oppose such advertising, it is worth noting that
it can be a large step from patenting something to making it practical. This
isn't the first time that a Russian has suggested using space for advertising. I
doubt this attempt will be any more successful. The costs are enormous, and I
expect this usage might interfere with other interests, commercial and military,
which would apply a bit of back-room pressure to keep it from happening
(assuming the economics could ever be made to work).

In the meantime, a much more real concern is light pollution right here on the
ground.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

While I agree with your sentiments, I don't agree with your ambivalence!
The time to always act is BEFORE the wolf is feeding on your children -
not afterwards. This may sound harsh but in today's harsh world, its a
reality. We need to defeat this before it becomes a fact, which is the same as
saying: "while it is becoming a fact". Hubble has proven we cant take anything
for granted in this world.
Jerry



Chris L Peterson wrote:

On 14 Mar 2004 17:51:45 GMT, (EFLASPO) wrote:

I received this news item from the Astronomical League, and wanted to pass it
along.

Ed Flaspoehler, President
American Association of Amateur Astronomers
http://www.astromax.com

Memorandum for Council and Committees
Astronomical League
cc: IDA Board, Sections, and Affiliates

The CNN news link below describes a new form of space advertising. The
Astronomical League strongly opposes this project as a threat to the science of
astronomy. This was also discussed yesterday at the 2004 annual meeting of the
International Dark-Sky Association.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/0....ap/index.html

While I am sure that all of us oppose such advertising, it is worth noting that
it can be a large step from patenting something to making it practical. This
isn't the first time that a Russian has suggested using space for advertising. I
doubt this attempt will be any more successful. The costs are enormous, and I
expect this usage might interfere with other interests, commercial and military,
which would apply a bit of back-room pressure to keep it from happening
(assuming the economics could ever be made to work).

In the meantime, a much more real concern is light pollution right here on the
ground.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 02:08:36 -0600, jerry warner wrote:

While I agree with your sentiments, I don't agree with your ambivalence!
The time to always act is BEFORE the wolf is feeding on your children -
not afterwards. This may sound harsh but in today's harsh world, its a
reality. We need to defeat this before it becomes a fact, which is the same as
saying: "while it is becoming a fact". Hubble has proven we cant take anything
for granted in this world.
Jerry

Jerry-

I'm certainly not ambivalent about this- what gave you that impression? Rather,
I consider this something that is very unlikely to happen. Frankly, outside of
voicing dissatisfaction with advertising in space, I don't know what else can be
done. So far, all that exists is a patent, and the international law on
operating is space is a maze.

My point (not very well stated) was only that light pollution from Earth itself
is a real and serious problem right now. This is the place to fight- there is
the possibility of very real returns, and if people can be taught the value of a
dark sky, the likelihood of something like this Russian crackpot getting off the
ground becomes even lower.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

The time to always act is BEFORE the wolf is feeding on your children -
not afterwards. This may sound harsh but in today's harsh world, its a
reality. We need to defeat this before it becomes a fact, which is the same as
saying: "while it is becoming a fact". Hubble has proven we cant take anything
for granted in this world.
Jerry



What do you suggest?

Thanks Matt. I suggest taking this to International Forums immediately, before
it becomes a problem. I think there could be international agreement. But the
time to start the process is now because these threats have reality behind them.
The Russians could launch tomorrow - literally. Patents very often come after
the fact.
Jerry




matt wrote:

The time to always act is BEFORE the wolf is feeding on your children -
not afterwards. This may sound harsh but in today's harsh world, its a
reality. We need to defeat this before it becomes a fact, which is the same as
saying: "while it is becoming a fact". Hubble has proven we cant take anything
for granted in this world.
Jerry

What do you suggest?

I will contact a very good international lawyer tomorrow. I will explain the issue.
I think I can get support here in my State because it is precisely at a stage where
politicians can support this - it being rather vague - and something might come
of launching an effort now vs later. Give me a week. I will see what I as an
individual can do.
Thanks,.
Jerry


matt wrote:

The time to always act is BEFORE the wolf is feeding on your children -
not afterwards. This may sound harsh but in today's harsh world, its a
reality. We need to defeat this before it becomes a fact, which is the same as
saying: "while it is becoming a fact". Hubble has proven we cant take anything
for granted in this world.
Jerry

What do you suggest?

jerry warner wrote in message ...
I will contact a very good international lawyer tomorrow. I will explain the issue.
I think I can get support here in my State because it is precisely at a stage where
politicians can support this - it being rather vague - and something might come
of launching an effort now vs later. Give me a week. I will see what I as an
individual can do.
Thanks,.
Jerry


In that case maybe this would be a good point to define what we feel
is an acceptable use of satellites in earths orbit. There must already
be some type of legislature governing what can be put into orbit, for
example I think I remember there being a ban on obital nuclear
weapons.