The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted a license to start-up Reflect Orbital to launch a satellite equipped with a 60-foot mirror designed to reflect sunlight back to Earth after dark. The satellite, named Eärendil-1, weighs 142kg and will orbit about 650km above Earth. Once deployed, it will unfurl a thin square mirror that bounces sunlight to illuminate a three-mile-wide stretch of the planet. According to the company's website, the reflected light would appear as a dot as bright as the full moon.
FCC approves demonstration satellite amid controversy
On Thursday, the FCC approved a license for a single demonstration satellite. Reflect Orbital plans to launch its first space mirror this year, with an ambitious goal of deploying 50,000 satellites by 2035. The constellation would light up the night sky for several hours at 36,000 lux—comparable to daylight—and continuously illuminate the world below at 100 lux, about as bright as the inside of a lift or corridor.
The company aims to sell the reflected sunlight on demand via an app or website, with applications including emergency lighting, construction sites, and farms. The cost is about $5,000 per hour for a one-mirror beam under a one-year contract, with higher prices for one-time events or emergencies, according to co-founder Ben Nowack.
Criticism from astronomers and scientists
The project has drawn significant criticism from astronomers and wildlife experts. The American Astronomical Society filed a petition to block the project, arguing the mirrors would wreak havoc on astronomical observations. The European Southern Observatory estimated each satellite in the fleet would be four times brighter than the moon or Venus, and from a light-polluted city like Munich, the hundreds of satellites would be the only visible "stars."
Dr James Blake, a research fellow at the University of Warwick's Centre for Space Domain Awareness, said: "Any large object placed in low Earth orbit has the potential to contaminate valuable data for scientific research. While innovation is to be encouraged, it's paramount that we switch our thinking from what can be done in space, to what needs to be done in space."
Light pollution concerns for biological rhythms
Charalambos Kyriacou, a geneticist at the University of Leicester and president of the European Biological Rhythms Society, warned that the beam of light could disrupt circadian rhythms affecting sleep, bird migration, and flower blooming. His society was among four biological clock research groups that raised concerns to the FCC, coining the term "orbital light pollution." Kyriacou said: "The FCC appears to have ignored our concerns, which is disappointing as this development has planetary implications. I think that's about all I can say – bit gobsmacked, to be honest."
The FCC order denied the petition to block the project, stating it is in the public interest to encourage testing of new space activities that promote American innovation and economic growth. The commission does not consider environmental concerns, arguing they are Earthly woes not applicable to space.
Company's response and future plans
Ben Nowack, co-founder of Reflect Orbital, said: "We're grateful to the FCC for recognising the importance of testing novel technologies in space. This license is the first step toward rigorously testing our technology's efficacy and the safeguards we have developed." The company also notes that solar farms could split profits from the extra hours of light generated by the mirrors.
