Information...

Energia, the main sponsor of the Space Regatta Consortium's "Znamya" (Russian for "Banner") project calls it an "experiment to test large thin film deployable structures as well as other related applications in space". It is basically an experiment to illuminate parts of earth by using an object in space to reflect the sun's rays. (You can see a picture of the "space mirror" here).

The mirror will orbit the earth and will be seen in at least one country on every continent when it is deployed. It is only scheduled to appear in the sky for 18 hours. To the observer Znamya 2.5 will appear 5 to 10 times brighter than the full moon and about half the size. According to the latest news reports the mirror will be visible from "parts of the U.S.-Canadian border, as well as the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, southern Russia and Kazakhstan" as long as there is no cloud cover.

A very similar experiment was conducted in 1993. At the time Znamya 2, as it was called, flew over a hand-full of European countries, Canada and parts of Asia. Bad weather sometimes made it difficult to see the object.

The project is seen as being controversial by some who fear the experiments will lead to a sky filled with bright objects and even advertising floating in space above us.

Other facts:
* The activities of the Space Regatta Consortium are licensed by the Russian Space Agency
* The following information was released also by Energia about Znamya:
Orbit altitude - 360 km
Reflector diameter - 25 m
Reflector film thickness - 5 mc
Reflector weight - 4,8 kg
Light spot diameter on the Earth - 6-8 km
Maximum reflector illumination - 0,2 lc
Moon illumination - 0,2 lc
Reflector brightness for watcher on the Earth - (-11,5) star size
Venus brightness - (-4) star size

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