Notes:

  • 10/28/19:
    • added article outline,
    • new subheadings to clarify existing headings,
    • additional sources
  • 10/30/19:


Article Outline:

Space Advertising [existing]

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[summary of article] - keep existing summary

Space advertising is the use of advertising in outer space or related to space flight. While there have only been a few examples of successful marketing campaigns, there have been several proposals to advertise in space, some even planning to launch giant billboards visible from the Earth. Obtrusive space advertising is the term used for such ventures that can interrupt the view of space and could present an obstacle to other spaceflight operations.

Advertising in space has faced criticisms for contributing to the existing problem of space debris and “polluting” the view of space as seen from the ground. It is regulated by a number of international and national legislation, though as technology improves further regulation will likely be required to cover new forms of space advertising. While space advertising is limited by both contemporary regulation and technological capability, in popular culture, space advertising has taken a variety of forms and displays.

History [new][to be revised and updated by Kevin]

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Beginning in the 1990's, when space technology became more available for companies after the Space Race and the fall of the Soviet Union[1], space advertising became a point of interest for various organizations to use as a marketing tool. There has been numerous attempts at space advertising since then and one of the most recent ones include Elon Musk’s SpaceX sending a Tesla car into orbit.[2][3]

One major advantage space advertising has over other Earth-bound methods is its sheer scale of reach where millions of people can be exposed to the adverts at any given point in time as the adverts orbit the Earth. As such, space advertising can provide valuable advertising capabilities despite the high start-up costs.[4][5] When considering the fact that companies are willing to spend millions in having a few seconds of advertisements during the Super Bowl, the sheer benefits provided by space advertising are very enticing for companies for advertising purposes.[6]

Attempts [existing] [ to be revised and updated by Kevin]

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There has not been too many general attempts at all due to the high cost of sending out anything into space in the first place. Considering how SpaceX’s minimum cost for sending objects into space is already in the millions, there have not been many attempts and less number of successful attempts in the past.[7]

Successful Attempts [new]

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The number of successful projects is low due to the high cost of spaceflight operations, in addition to the costs of maintaining the advertisement over a period of time.[8] Considering how SpaceX’s minimum cost for sending objects into space is already in the millions, there have not been many attempts and less successful attempts. Out of the few successful attempts that have worked, even less companies have managed to gain the publicity that they desire; Elon Musk is one such exception in sending out a Tesla car into space.[9][10]

Some of the successful attempts includes, but is not limited to, the following list:

  • Tokyo Broadcasting System (1990) - Paid spaceflight where a journalist was sent into orbit with company logo on space vehicle[11]
  • Pepsi (1996) - Paid approximately $5 million USD to have a cosmonaut float a replica of the company's soda can outside the Russian space station[11]
  • Tnuva (1997) - Filming of a milk commercial in space for the Israeli company[11]
  • Pizza Hut (2000) - Paid approximately $1 million USD for a space ad that saw their logo painted on a rocket[11]
  • SpaceX (2018) - Sent a Tesla Roadster into orbit as the dummy payload for Falcon Heavy test flight[12]
  • Rocket Lab (2019) - Sent a shiny object "the Humanity Star" into orbit[13]
  • Art (2018) - Berlin-based Artist Trevor Paglen designed an inflatable, arrow-shaped structure dubbed the "Orbital Reflector", which orbited the Earth on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California[14]

Failed Attempts [new]

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Although the sheer number of attempts of space advertising is not significant, there have been a number of past failed attempts as companies and organizations around the world planned different projects and plans to launch some type of marketing ploy in space.

Some of the failed attempts that have occured in the past includes but is not limited to the following list:

  • France (1987) - Project named "The Ring of Light" which involved the launch of an inflatable ring in space[15]
  • Russian Space Program (1990's) - Russian space program that involved launch of satellites designed to reflect and beam sunlight to polar regions on Earth[11]
  • Space Marketing Inc. (1993) - Proposed launching a giant billboard into space[16]
  • China (2018) - Proposed putting an artificial moon in space[17]

Criticism [existing] [to be revised and updated by Jeff]

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Danger [new]

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There is also growing concern about the dangers that can be caused by launching more objects - including advertisements - in space. Placing more satellites in space could increase opportunities for collisions, as stated by John Crassidis, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University at Buffalo. He believes that the biggest issue will be how the additional satellites can potentially become space junk.[18] An implication of the additional advertising satellites in space could contribute to the Kessler syndrome. Many other incidents of space collisions have occurred:

Pollution [new]

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Aside from the danger that can be brought about with increasing space advertising, pollution is also another problem. According to a paper that the International Astronomical Union presented to the United Nations, “Scattered light from sunlit spacecraft and space debris, and radio noise from communications satellites and global positioning systems in space, reach the entire surface of the Earth”.[20]

UN Treaties and Governments' Acts [new] [to be revised and updated by Ruilin]

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While it is a relatively new concept, space advertising has and is subject to a number of international treaties and national policies, either specifically on space advertising or on space commercial activities.

UN Treaties [new]

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  • Outer Space Treaty (1966) set principles of international space law. It determines that all States should have the right to freely explore the outer space [21]. This treaty provides free access of space so space advertising is not subject to global prohibition.[22]
  • Space Liability Convention (1972) ruled that a State is fully liable for damages caused by space objects launched in its own territory. Under this treaty, States are responsible for private launches for commercial purposes, including advertising.[23]

Governments' Acts [Modify original article]

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  • 51 U.S. Code 50911 regulates that no license will be issued and no launch will be permitted for activities that involve obtrusive space advertising. This prohibition does not apply to other forms of advertising, such as displaying logos.[24] The display of logos is allowed in both launches with licenses, which can receive payment, and launches with experiment permits.[25]
  • US's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is discussing on loosening its commercial restriction policy as a governmental agent.[26] It is considering to sell its naming rights of its spacecrafts for financial purposes.[26] Loosening such restriction might cause more brands to conduct space advertising [27].
  • In 2019, NASA opened International Space Station (ISS) for space advertising and other short-duration commercial activities conducted by private companies' crews.[28]
  • In November 2016, Japan legislated a licensing system for private-sector companies' launching. This act aimed to stimulate Japanese's commercial activities in space by supporting third-party liability insurance and channeling more liability onto launching companies in order to assure customers who pay the launchers.[29]
  • Russia prohibits launches which contaminate the outer space and create unfavorable environmental changes.[30] However, there is no explicit ban on space advertising despite its potential light pollution and debris.[31][32]
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Advertising in outer space or in space flight has been featured in several science fiction books, films and television series, most frequently in the animated series Futurama. They are usually shown as satire of commercialization.

Film [new]

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  • In the 2008 computer-animated science fiction film WALL-E, the star liner spacecraft Axiom features a wide variety of advertisements for Buy n Large products.
  • In the movie Hancock, the logo of the fictitious All-Heart charity is painted on the Moon by the title character.

Literature [new]

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  • In Fredric Brown's 1945 short story, "Pi in the Sky," an inventor rearranges the apparent positions of the stars to form an advertising slogan.
  • In Robert A. Heinlein's 1951 novella The Man Who Sold the Moon the protagonist raises funds for his lunar ambitions by publicly describing means of covering the visible lunar face in advertising and propaganda, and then taking money not to do so.
  • In Isaac Asimov's 1958 short story "Buy Jupiter", a group of extraterrestrials broker a deal with the governments of Earth to purchase the planet Jupiter for use as an advertisement platform to passing starships from their worlds.
  • In Franquin's 1961 comics album Z comme Zorglub, Zorglub tries to write an advertisement for Coca-Cola on the Moon.
  • A Red Dwarf novel features an advertising campaign whereby a ship is sent on a mission by The Coca-Cola Company to cause 128 stars to go supernova in order to visibly spell the words "Coke Adds Life!" across the sky on Earth. The message is intended to last five weeks, and be visible even in daylight.

Video Games [new]

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  • In the Outer Worlds, space advertising is used predominantly by the many corporations and businesses in the Halcyon colony.
  • In Tales from the Borderlands, Scooter has his advertisement for Catch-a-ride displayed in space in the ending of the game.[33]

Television [new]

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  • In an episode of Carmen Sandiego's television show, she plans to launch rockets to transform the Moon's face into the show's logo.
  • In the cartoon The Tick, Chairface Chippendale attempts to write his name on the Moon but fails and only writes the letters "CHA".


HC comment: OCTOBER 28, 2019 - in class work - email received; outline consists only of existing components although there are new subheadings. Make sure that you have covered important aspects that readers of an encyclopedia would want to know. An example of a similar article was provided in class. Use the cite tool for your references rather than cutting and pasting links.

Please remember: DO NOT CUT AND PASTE CONTENT FROM ARTICLES HERE.


HC comment: October 30, 2019 - in class work - email received; outline is looking better. will there be a technology or how it works section?




  1. ^ Editors, History com. "The Space Race". HISTORY. Retrieved 2019-10-30. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Alexander, Harriet; Horton, Helena (2018-02-06). "Elon Musk sends Tesla car to Mars on SpaceX rocket". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  3. ^ tech, Holly Brockwell 2019-03-30T12:00:20Z Future. "The great ad-space race: the history of space advertising". TechRadar. Retrieved 2019-10-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "A Brief History of Space Advertising". The 8 Percent. 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
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  12. ^ Wilkin, Nathaniel Lee, Rebecca. "Elon Musk sent a $100K Tesla Roadster to space a year ago. It has now traveled farther than any other car in history". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-11-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Space Billboards Are Just the Latest Orbital Stunt". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  14. ^ "Artist's artificial 'star' will take public art to new heights". NBC News. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  15. ^ LEWIS, PETER. "France's ring of light | Maclean's | JANUARY 5, 1987". Maclean's | The Complete Archive. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  16. ^ "A Company Once Tried to Put a Kilometer-Wide Billboard in Space". Curiosity.com. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  17. ^ "Could China really launch a 'fake moon'?". 2018-10-20. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  18. ^ "This Russian startup wants to put huge ads in space. Not everyone is on board with the idea". NBC News. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  19. ^ Garcia, Mark (2015-04-13). "Space Debris and Human Spacecraft". NASA. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  20. ^ "Space Billboards Are Just the Latest Orbital Stunt". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  21. ^ "The Outer Space Treaty". www.unoosa.org. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  22. ^ "Space Billboards Are Just the Latest Orbital Stunt". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  23. ^ Dempsey, Paul (2014). "National Legislation Governing Commercial Space Activities" (PDF). United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Retrieved 2019-11-4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Lodge, Emma (2016-12-04). "51 USC § 50911 – Space Advertising". foundations of law and society. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  25. ^ "Commercial Space Advertising". Ground Based Space Matters. 2018-09-12. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  26. ^ a b defense, Christian Davenport closeChristian DavenportReporter covering the; industriesEmailEmailBioBioFollowFollow, space. "Why NASA's next rockets might say Budweiser on the side". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  27. ^ "Logos in Space: The Future of Advertising?". LogoGrab Blog. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  28. ^ Spaceflight, Hanneke Weitering 2019-06-07T15:03:33Z. "NASA: The International Space Station Is Open for Commercial Business in Orbit". Space.com. Retrieved 2019-11-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ "New Law Aims to Expand Japan's Space Business". nippon.com. 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  30. ^ "National Space Law Collection: Russian Federation". www.unoosa.org. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  31. ^ "This Russian startup wants to put huge ads in space. Not everyone is on board with the idea". NBC News. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  32. ^ Rayne, Elizabeth (2019-01-20). "Russia wants to put billboards in space. Astronomers don't like it". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  33. ^ "Scooter". Tales From The Borderlands Wiki. Retrieved 2019-10-30.