FCC Grants Approval For Sun-Reflecting Space Mirror That's Been Widely Criticized By Astronomers
Reflect Orbital wants to direct sunlight at night with a network of satellites.
Reflect Orbital
The Federal Communications Commission has approved Reflect Orbital's request to launch a demonstration satellite that can reflect sunlight to Earth at night. The new satellite had to go through FCC approval because of the radio spectrum it operates on, but the larger concern from scientists is how it could affect health and the environment while in use.
Reflect Orbital's satellite, Earendil-1, features an adjustable "highly specular, thin-film reflector" for directing sunlight, and a built-in propulsion system that's supposed to help it avoid collisions and otherwise maneuver while in low-earth orbit. Reflect Orbital imagines operating a Starlink-esque network it can position for on-demand sunlight (powering solar panels or increasing visibility for search-and-rescue teams), but for now it'll test its premise with a single satellite.
The concept has not gone unchallenged by the scientific community. The FCC's...
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