Reflect Orbital is gearing up to launch a satellite equipped with an 18×18-meter thin-film mirror by the close of this year. Positioned in a 625 km orbit, the satellite aims to direct sunlight towards a 5-6 km area on the Earth’s surface. The company’s objective is to enhance the operational hours of solar power stations and illuminate construction sites, agricultural fields, disaster-stricken regions, and search-and-rescue operations.
The concept is not entirely novel; in 1993, the Russian Znamya-2 project successfully deployed a 20-meter mirror in orbit, casting a beam of reflected sunlight across a 5-km-wide region in Europe. However, a subsequent attempt in 1999 ended in failure when the reflector became entangled in an antenna and was damaged.
On July 9, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission granted approval for the satellite's launch and operation, despite concerns raised by experts in the field. The American Astronomical Society has voiced its opposition to the initiative, cautioning that the introduction of artificial light could hinder astronomical research. There are also worries that such lighting could disturb circadian rhythms, interfere with animal migration patterns, and pose risks of glare for pilots.
In response to these concerns, Reflect Orbital has committed to limiting the light to specified locations, rapidly shutting off the reflection, and steering clear of observatories and protected natural areas. The startup has ambitious plans to launch as many as 50,000 mirror satellites by the year 2035. What are your thoughts on this innovative idea?
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