A Company Got Approval for a Giant Space Mirror. Experts Are Raising Alarms
The new technology aims to reflect sunlight back to Earth to illuminate streets and neighborhoods without electricity after dark.
A California-based space technology company, Reflect Orbital, has received approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to test a satellite carrying a giant reflective mirror. The Eärendil-1 demonstration satellite will be launched later this year and, if successful, could lead to the deployment of 36 satellites in orbit by 2027.
The technology aims to redirect sunlight to specific locations on Earth, illuminating areas without electricity and providing additional sunlight to solar farms after dark. However, experts have raised alarms over potential negative impacts, including light pollution, disruption to ecosystems, and interference with scientific research.
Astronomer and professor Stacy McGaugh argues that the project could have severe consequences for observational astronomy, in the same league as looking directly at the sun through a telescope. He also warns that brightly illuminated night skies could negatively affect both people and wildlife. Reflect Orbital claims the design of the program has been influenced by concerns about light pollution and environmental impacts, and the company is commissioning third-party environmental research and working with federal partners to ensure its technology is used responsibly.
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