The FCC approved "space mirrors" that experts say could blind stargazers and disrupt wildlife

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved a proposal from Reflect Orbital, a California-based startup, to launch a significant number of space mirrors into Earth's orbit. This decision has raised concerns among experts about potential risks to human health and the planet's natural cycles.

The space mirrors are designed to reflect sunlight towards specific regions of the planet, with possible applications in power generation. However, Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society, described the FCC's approval as "extraordinary" and warned that the project could pose serious health risks. Looking directly at sunlight reflected from the device could be as dangerous as viewing the Sun without proper eye protection.

Astronomers are particularly worried that amateur stargazers might inadvertently expose themselves to harmful reflected sunlight while trying to locate the satellites in Earth's orbit. The Air Line Pilots Association has also expressed concerns regarding air safety, as these mirrors could potentially disrupt aircraft navigation. Moreover, chronobiologists have warned that a large-scale deployment of light-reflecting satellites could disrupt the natural nighttime ecosystems of migratory species.

The FCC's approval, despite public concerns, allows Reflect Orbital to proceed with its plans. The company is currently developing the Eärendil-1 prototype, which will be the first space mirror to be launched. Reflect Orbital aims to deploy thousands of satellites by the end of the decade, with the goal of having 50,000 mirrors orbiting the Earth by 2035.