【Han Yi-seul-I (한이슬) Archives】

This was unexpected.

On Wednesday,Han Yi-seul-I (한이슬) Archives the New Zealand rocket company Rocket Lab announced that it launched a secret satellite to space aboard the test flight of its Electron rocket over the weekend.

That satellite, known as the Humanity Star, "is expected to become the brightest thing in the night sky," Rocket Lab said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Space startup Rocket Lab successfully sent a rocket to orbit

The Humanity Star is shaped like a geodesic sphere and is designed to spin around and around, catching the light of the sun and reflecting it back down onto Earth.

Of course, Rocket Lab will need to wait for actual sightings of the satellite from the ground in order to confirm that it's working as expected.

If it works, the satellite won't always be brighter than the moon or the International Space Station, but Rocket Lab anticipates that occasionally people on the ground will be treated to a bright flash from it.

Think of it as a cosmic disco ball with a greater purpose.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

“No matter where you are in the world, or what is happening in your life, everyone will be able to see the Humanity Star in the night sky," Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said in the statement.

"Our hope is that all those looking up at it will look past it to the vast expanse of the universe and think a little differently about their lives, actions and what is important for humanity."

The Humanity Star orbits Earth every 90 minutes, appearing above various parts of the planet each night.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Rocket Lab is planning to release the satellite's track so that people know when the Humanity Star will be visible above any given location.

The satellite is expected to stay in orbit for about nine months before it is pulled into Earth's atmosphere.

"For us to thrive and survive, we need to make big decisions in the context of humanity as a whole, not in the context of individuals, organisations or even nations," Beck said.

"The Humanity Star is a way of looking beyond our immediate situation, whatever that may be, and understanding we are all in this together as one species, responsible collectively for innovating and solving the challenges facing us all."

Rocket Lab, as a company, is built around the idea of creating small rockets that could launch small payloads to orbit for paying customers who can't necessarily wait to hitch rides on larger rockets that might be able to bring their wares to orbit alongside a larger payload.

You can learn more about the Humanity Star through its website.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Neil deGrasse Tyson explains if we can dump our trash on the moon

---

• Social Good
• Shopping
• Tech
• Deals
• Digital Culture
• Games
• Science
• Entertainment

• Best grocery deal: Spend $20 and get $5 off at Amazon
• Here's why you should make your bed every morning
• Politicians are trolling to win the midterms. Some of it is ... good.
• The Smithsonian's 'FUTURES' virtual exhibit imagines the year 2050
• Best Kindle Unlimited deal: Get 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for 99 cents
• Ken M and the lost art of 'do no harm' trolling
• Donald Trump’s election was a 'traumatic experience' for many
• Bitcoin continues to plummet, dropping below $20K
• Amazon Pet Day: All the best deals
• Google News redesigned with a cleaner look, more customization options

• Revisiting the Radeon R9 280X / HD 7970
• Amazon Prime Shipping: A Cost Analysis
• Nintendo Switch 2 preorder stock April 25: See the retailers accepting orders
• A longshot federal recycling bill brings good ideas to the forefront
• Save 29% on the Sony WH
• How to watch 'Conclave' at home: Release date, streaming deals, and more
• How to Make Windows 11 Look and Feel More Like Windows 10
• Best AirTag deal: Save 14% on the Apple AirTag
• How to play 'The Last of Us' games after watching the show
• AMD Ryzen 5000 IPC Performance Tested

• The Amazon Book Sale is coming April 23 through 28
• Bitcoin continues to plummet, dropping below $20K
• 'Wordle' today: Get the answer, hints for June 20
• SpaceX fires employees who condemned Elon Musk's behavior in open letter: Report
• NYT mini crossword answers for May 9, 2025
• 'Pokémon Go' now has a bunch of new creatures and there's 1 runaway favourite
• Woman saved from hostage situation after leaving plea for help on GrubHub food order
• Ken M and the lost art of 'do no harm' trolling
• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for April 7, 2025
• Twitter launches closed caption toggle on iOS and Android

• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for April 26: Tips to solve Connections #215
• How to change your Zoom background
• How LGBTQ people are breaking down barriers to take on the outdoors
• Beto O'Rourke's being sued over campaign text messages
• The fat bears are already extremely fat
• Terrifying video shows a bridge sagging under the weight of a massive bus
• 11 gifts for fancy dogs with weirdly human names
• Watch Rihanna vogue to the 'A Star Is Born' soundtrack
• Eufy L60 robot vacuum: Get it for $279.95 at Amazon
• Meghan Markle and Prince Harry find inner peace in this 'anti