Anicet Mbida 06:52, 04 April 2023

Anicet Mbida gives us every morning what is best in innovation. This Tuesday, he is interested in the future of pyrotechnic shows, shooting stars that can be triggered on demand.

The innovation of the day may be the future of fireworks shows. Stronger than fireworks: shooting stars that can be triggered on demand.

We can place an order: "I would like a dozen in blue and red tones. I need them at 23:15 p.m. sharp, it's for a marriage proposal. »

It sounds crazy: no need to be lucky or wait for the passage of the Perseids to make a wish. You can have artificial shooting stars wherever you want, when you want, thanks to a service prepared by the Japanese Astro Live Experiences. In addition, they will remain visible in the sky for a good ten seconds (they will not disappear in the blink of an eye like natural shooting stars). They will also be brighter and we can choose their color.

How is that possible? By sending a satellite stuffed with small metal balls. They are then dropped just above the requested area. And as they enter the atmosphere, they will ignite, melt and leave a luminous plume to create shooting stars.

That means you have to send them with a rocket... It's going to cost a fortune!

Yes, several million euros! So it won't be within everyone's reach. Instead, they target amusement parks or big events like the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. But the first demonstration will be funded by science to learn more about the upper layer of the atmosphere. It is a very difficult area to observe because it is both too high for weather balloons and too low for satellites. But by following the trajectory and color variations of their fake shooting stars, it would provide information on the winds and the composition of the atmosphere. So to better understand climate change.

And when will this demonstration take place?

In principle, by the end of the year. They're going to hitchhike on another mission's rocket. And add their marbles to the load. The meteor shower is expected to fall in Japan, above Mount Fuji.

It is true that it breaks the magic a little. But I find it fascinating that shooting stars can be created on demand. Tomorrow, it may be the Northern Lights...