First sunlight-reflecting space mirror gets launch clearance; astronomers raise concerns
The US startup Reflect Orbital has received FCC approval to launch a prototype satellite with a reflective surface designed to beam sunlight to Earth at night. The company envisions a constellation of 50,000 such satellites by 2035, but astronomers and environmental groups warn of light pollution and threats to observations.
Reflect Orbital, a California-based startup, has been granted permission by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch its first space mirror. The prototype satellite, named Eärendil-1 after a Tolkien character, is equipped with an 18-meter (59-foot) reflective surface intended to redirect sunlight to specific areas on Earth after dark.
The company plans to eventually deploy a constellation of 50,000 satellites by 2035, capable of illuminating areas up to 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide. Reflect Orbital says the technology will be available "on demand" and could serve industries such as solar energy, agriculture, and emergency response.
However, the project has drawn significant opposition. Nearly 2,000 public comments were submitted to the FCC opposing the space mirror plans. Notable critics include the American Astronomical Society, DarkSky International, the Royal Astronomical Society, and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). "For optical astronomy, this is an existential threat," Betty Kioko, ESO's institutional affairs officer, told Wired prior to the FCC clearance.
Concerns also extend to space debris, light pollution, potential disruption of wildlife reliant on natural light cycles, and risks to aviation safety.
