Japan sends ‘first artificial meteor shower’ into space

Japan on Friday sent the world's first artificial meteor shower into space, said media reports.
A rocket carrying a satellite on a mission to deliver the world's first artificial meteor shower blasted into space on Friday, Japanese scientists said. The mission was launched from the Uchinoura Space Center by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) early Friday.
The major scientific step was taken by a Tokyo based start-up -- ALE Co Ltd -- which developed the micro-satellite, Japan Today reported.
The satellite is a test case for a "shooting stars on demand" service, the report said.
Tiny balls that glow brightly as they speed through the atmosphere, simulating a meteor shower, will be released by the satellite.
The rocket is carrying a total of seven ultra-small satellites that will demonstrate various "innovative" technologies, the news report added.
The price for an artificial meteor shower was not announced.