This Startup Wants to Use Space Mirrors to Light Up Earth at Night. Feds Just Said Go Ahead
California startup Reflect Orbital has received FCC approval to launch a prototype satellite designed to reflect sunlight onto Earth after dark. The company aims to eventually deploy a constellation of 50,000 mirrors to provide illumination for disaster zones, agriculture, and industrial sites, though astronomers have raised concerns about light pollution.
Why it matters
This project represents a significant shift in orbital utility that could fundamentally alter the night sky and impact both ground-based astronomy and global light pollution standards.
California startup Reflect Orbital received clearance to launch its first satellite, aiming to build a constellation to illuminate dark areas with in-space mirrors.
The article presents the startup's goals alongside the concerns of the scientific community without taking a definitive stance.
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