# Humanity Star > passive small satellite designed to reflect sunlight **Wikidata**: [Q47496512](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47496512) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanity_Star) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/humanity-star ## Summary Humanity Star was a passive small satellite designed to reflect sunlight. Created by Rocket Lab, it orbited Earth for approximately 9 months before reentering the atmosphere in March 2018. The satellite was launched to provide a visible beacon in the night sky that could be seen by people worldwide. ## Key Facts - Humanity Star was a passive satellite with a mass of 10.34 kilograms and length of 1 meter - It was launched on January 21, 2018, at 04:20:00 UTC from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A - The satellite had a COSPAR ID of 2018-010F and was cataloged as SCN 43168 - Humanity Star orbited Earth with an orbital period of 92.6 minutes, a periapsis of 287.9 km, and apoapsis of 517.9 km - It had an orbital inclination of 82.9 degrees and semi-major axis of 6781 km - The satellite was launched using Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle (first stage) - Humanity Star was operational for approximately 9 months before reentering Earth's atmosphere on March 22, 2018 - It was designed to reflect sunlight and act as a visible beacon in the night sky - The project had a website available in English, with the domain http://www.thehumanitystar.com/ ## FAQs ### Q: What was the purpose of Humanity Star? A: Humanity Star was designed as a passive satellite to reflect sunlight, creating a visible beacon in the night sky. The project aimed to inspire people by giving them a shared astronomical object they could observe from anywhere on Earth. ### Q: How long did Humanity Star remain in orbit? A: Humanity Star was in orbit for approximately 9 months. It was launched on January 21, 2018, and reentered Earth's atmosphere on March 22, 2018, after completing its mission. ### Q: Who created Humanity Star and how was it launched? A: Humanity Star was created by Rocket Lab, a private aerospace company. It was launched using Rocket Lab's Electron orbital launch vehicle from Launch Complex 1A in New Zealand on January 21, 2018. ### Q: Could people actually see Humanity Star from Earth? A: Yes, the satellite was designed to be visible from Earth as a bright point of light reflecting sunlight. It had a high orbital inclination of 82.9 degrees, meaning it passed over most populated regions of Earth. ## Why It Matters Humanity Star represented an unconventional approach to space exploration that blended science with public engagement. Unlike most satellites designed for specific technical or scientific purposes, Humanity Star served as an artistic and educational tool aimed at reconnecting people with space. The satellite's brief, 9-month mission demonstrated that even small objects could capture global attention and inspire wonder about our place in the cosmos. The project highlighted Rocket Lab's capabilities as a launch provider, showcasing their ability to deploy small satellites on precise trajectories. For the public, it provided a tangible connection to space that transcended national boundaries and brought together people from around the world to look up at the night sky. ## Notable For - Humanity Star was specifically designed as a passive satellite whose primary function was to reflect sunlight rather than perform scientific measurements - It had one of the shortest operational lifespans of any intentional satellite, completing its atmospheric reentry in just 2 months after launch - The project represented a rare example of a satellite created primarily for artistic and inspirational purposes rather than scientific or commercial applications - Humanity Star was launched by Rocket Lab during their earliest test flights, demonstrating their capability to deploy satellites in polar orbits - Unlike most satellites that aim to remain in orbit for years or decades, Humanity Star had a deliberately short mission duration with a planned atmospheric reentry ## Body ### Overview Humanity Star was a small passive satellite designed to reflect sunlight, serving as a visible beacon in the night sky. The project was initiated by Rocket Lab, a private aerospace company, with the aim of inspiring people worldwide. The satellite had a spherical shape with a diameter of approximately 1 meter and a mass of 10.34 kilograms. Its primary function was to reflect sunlight in multiple directions, making it visible from Earth as a bright moving point of light. ### Technical Specifications - Mass: 10.34 kilograms - Length: 1 meter - COSPAR ID: 2018-010F - Satellite Catalog Number: 43168 - Parent astronomical body: Earth ### Orbital Characteristics - Orbital period: 92.6 minutes - Periapsis: 287.9 kilometers - Apoapsis: 517.9 kilometers - Orbital inclination: 82.9 degrees - Semi-major axis: 6,781 kilometers ### Mission Timeline - Launch date: January 21, 2018, at 04:20:00 UTC - Launch site: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A - Launch vehicle: Electron (first flight) - Mission duration: Approximately 9 months - Atmospheric reentry: March 22, 2018 ### Purpose and Significance - Functioned as a passive satellite that did not generate or emit energy - Created to reflect sunlight and serve as a visible astronomical object - Aimed at inspiring people and reconnecting humanity with space exploration - Provided a shared celestial object that could be observed by people worldwide ### Legacy and Impact - Demonstrated Rocket Lab's capability to deploy small satellites in precise orbits - Showcased interest in space projects with artistic and inspirational purposes - Provided educational value by bringing attention to orbital mechanics and satellite tracking - Proved that even small satellites could capture global attention and media coverage ## References 1. [Source](http://heavens-above.com/satinfo.aspx?satid=43168) 2. Jonathan's Space Report 3. [Source](https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=43168) 4. [Source](http://www.thehumanitystar.com/)