Japan start-up plans meteor shower by 2020

Tokyo : A Japanese start-up developing “shooting stars on demand” says it will be ready to deliver the world’s first artificial meteor shower in a spectacular show over Hiroshima in early 2020.

ALE, based in Tokyo, is in the final stages of developing two micro-satellites that will release tiny balls that glow brightly as they enter the atmosphere, simulating a meteor shower. The first satellite will hitch a ride into space on a rocket being launched by Japan’s space agency by March 2019. The second will be launched in mid-2019 on a private-sector rocket. Each satellite will be able o carry 400 tiny balls whose chemical formula is a closely-guarded secret.

Ejected from the satellite, the balls will glow as they plunge through the atmosphere. The 400 balls will be enough for 20-30 events, according to the company, and the satellites will be able to stay in space for around two years. ALE’s two satellites will start orbiting the Earth by February 2020. It has not disclosed the price but it may not come so cheap, with the company spending about $20 million for the development, production, launch and operation of the two satellites.