Emerging Space Applications

There are a number of proposed or realized commercial uses of space beyond telecommunications. Examples of these include space advertising and the use of reflectors to beam sunlight from space to solar power plants on the night side of the Earth. Many of these uses are proposed but not yet tried. They are not specifically prohibited by any international treaty or convention, although a few countries have prohibited certain uses if launched from their territory. These uses represent a gross intrusion into the lives of people everywhere and especially those outside of the target market, yet many of the same people have no meaningful input into the decisions to launch them. The uses may significantly alter the appearance of the night sky or have unintended side effects that are not presently understood.