The Controversial Space Mirrors Designed to Boost Solar Power

The California-based company Reflect Orbital has been granted permission by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to test a satellite equipped with an 18-meter-wide mirror aimed at boosting solar power. The startup, which raised $20 million in May 2025, plans to launch the Erendil-1 demo satellite into low Earth orbit before the year's end.

If successful, the satellite will redirect sunlight onto specific areas on Earth, providing light during nighttime hours and potentially powering solar farms without the need for electricity.

However, the project has faced criticism from scientists who expressed concerns over the potential impacts of light beams on pilots, astronomical research, circadian rhythms, and the migration of nocturnal species. The director of public policy at the American Astronomical Society, Roohi Dalal, emphasized the possible effects of the Reflect Orbital's activities on human health, agriculture, and wildlife.

Over 1,800 comments were submitted to the FCC regarding the satellite, and letters were sent to the agency by presidents of four international scientific societies, urging the FCC to conduct a comprehensive environmental review and establish limits on satellite reflectivity and cumulative night sky brightness.

Reflect Orbital's co-founder and CEO, Ben Nowack, stated that the pilot project will gather data and confirm the effectiveness of the safeguards that will control the light beams emitted by the satellite. The company aims to launch 1,000 satellite mirrors by 2028 and 50,000 by 2035 if the pilot project proves successful. However, critics argue that the rocket fuel required to launch these satellites could contribute significantly to carbon emissions, potentially exacerbating the environmental issue they aim to address.

Reflect Orbital is not the only company exploring this technology. Elon Musk's SpaceX has proposed a network of up to 1 million satellites to create a giant solar-powered computing network orbiting Earth, which could potentially lower the energy demands of terrestrial data centers. However, SpaceX's existing Starlink network has already faced accusations of causing congestion in space.

Despite the potential benefits, environmentalists and astronomers warn that the technology could have detrimental effects on the environment and human, animal, and plant health.