Chinese Satellite observed off Hawaii

Chinese green-light laser satellite spotted off Hawaii

The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan initially posited that NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite was the source of the green laser light show seen near Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Days later, NASA confirmed that it had conducted a simulation taking into account the location of satellites in the planet’s orbit at the time and determined that a Chinese satellite was responsible for the lights.

As for the Chinese satellite in question, there was no indication that it is serving a nefarious or aggressive purpose. Roy Gal of the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Astronomy noted that the orbiting object is primarily used to gauge pollutants in the atmosphere.

Of course, not everyone supports his effort to give China the benefit of the doubt. Former Marine Forces Pacific Chief of Staff Ray L’Heureux, for example, expressed skepticism that one of “the most prolific polluters on the planet” would bother collecting evidence about pollutants near Hawaii.

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