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Monday, May 23, 2005

FAA Nixes Billboards in Space

Those of you eager to see Coke, Budweiser or Nike advertisements hovering in the night sky are in for a disappointment. The Federal Aviation Administration wants to prohibit "obtrusive" advertising in zero gravity.

"Objects placed in orbit, if large enough, could be seen by people around the world for long periods of time," the FAA said in its filing. "Large advertisements could destroy the darkness of the night sky." Theoretically, large orbiting billboards could be created that would be larger and brighter than the moon, and that could be seen with the naked eye.

Still unclear is whether the FAA will have the means or the authority to actually enforce this rule. It would also only apply to American advertisers.

Source: CNN.com