Is that a Disco ball in the sky? Rocket Lab launched satellite from New Zealand

If you gaze at the night sky above you, your eyes might catch the sight of a disco ball glinting and shining like a star. A startup company by US spaceflight named Rocket Lab has introduced three commercial type satellites out into the Earth’s orbit which was scheduled last week during the rocket launch. However, it has recently been revealed that the rocket had another hidden rider aboard its vicinity. A satellite that was previously undisclosed was also launched along with the three satellites by the Electron rocket. The satellite was named “Humanity Star”. The satellite probe is the brightest object in the sky at night; post its launch as explained by the company.

The Humanity Star has been given the shape of a disco ball which is a sphere made of carbon fiber that is about 3-foot-wide. The sphere consists of a total 65 panels that reflect the light of the sun. The satellite has been designed to spin in the space which is why it constantly bounces the light reflecting from the sun. The most amazing fact about this probe is that it can be seen with naked eyes too. The satellite shall cover the entirety of Earth which means it can be seen from any point on Earth, given the right time. The company also provides a real-time update on the current location of the satellite so that people can see it.

The prime aim of this particular project is to initiate a shared experience for the humans to establish the fact that no matter where you are, you can always see the Humanity Star in the night sky if you look above at the right time. The researchers who were a part of this project expect that looking at the Humanity Star just might initiate a different perspective of life for humans which shall help them come together to take care of major issues at hands such as global warming and a shortage of natural resources.

The spherical satellite was launched along with the second test flight for the Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. The rocket was constructed to send small yet powerful satellites into space. This launch was the very first-time Electron deployed any kind of payload by making it to the orbit. Currently, the satellite has no other scientific task apart from shining high in the sky. The satellite shall stay in the orbit for a period of nine months after which it shall fall back on Earth.