Experts: Japan’s Fake Meteor Showers Are Not a Good Idea

Japan-based company Astro Live Experiences (ALE) plans to create fake meteor showers for the ultra rich’s entertainment, but scientists don’t think it is a good idea. The artificial displays could negatively impact satellites and fill the orbit with unwanted debris.

ALE wants its wealthy clients satisfied by promising them unique tech-based experiences. The fake meteor showers will be generated by a mini-satellite that will circle the globe.

ALE can instruct the satellite to fire up to two dozen metallic pebbles that will blaze over the location of the wealthy buyer for a few seconds. One satellite can carry 400 artificial meteors for more than two years before collapsing into the atmosphere.

ALE originally wanted to test the technology at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, but rich buyers have expressed interest in it. A single fake meteor will cost $40,000, while the price tag of an entire show could reach millions of dollars.

Experts Oppose the Idea

Experts, however, are not convinced that the technology is safe. The man-made meteors could impact other nearby satellites which travel along the same orbit. Also, ALE’s technology would just create extra orbital debris which is incredibly hard to clean.

Scientists are also concerned about the low orbit becoming overcrowded in the next decade with private space companies like SpaceX trying to launch more satellites. SpaceX recently said that it wants to deploy 7,500 satellites into orbit in the next decade.

The private space flight company’s satellites will offer internet access to all parts of the world, but the Japanese entertainment satellites could easily smash into SpaceX’s orbiters.

A spokesperson for the Japanese company said that all concerns will be addressed. ALE plans to access the low orbit responsibly and make things work for everyone.
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