🚀 Reflect Orbital's "Sunlight on Demand"—Even at Night
Reflect Orbital plans to launch a satellite with an 18×18-meter thin-film mirror by the end of the year. From a 625 km orbit, the craft is designed to reflect sunlight onto a 5-6 km patch of Earth.
Reflect Orbital wants to extend the operating hours of solar farms and light up construction sites, fields, disaster areas, and search-and-rescue zones.
🔍 The idea isn't new. Back in 1993, the Russian Znamya-2 project deployed a 20-meter mirror in orbit and sent a roughly 5-km-wide patch of reflected sunlight across Europe. A second attempt in 1999 failed—the reflector caught on an antenna and tore.
✖️ Astronomers Push Back
On July 9, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission authorized the launch and operation of the satellite despite objections from experts.
The American Astronomical Society opposes the project, warning that artificial light could interfere with astronomical observations. Reflected light could also disrupt circadian rhythms, affect animal migration, and pose a glare risk to pilots.
Reflect Orbital says it will confine the light to designated areas, switch the reflection off quickly, and avoid observatories and protected natural areas. The startup aims to deploy as many as 50,000 mirror satellites by 2035.
What do you think of the idea?
❤️ — This is awesome!
🤣 — Will someone tell them about streetlights?
@hiaimediaen