A California startup called Reflect Orbital has been cleared to move ahead with its first space mirror, a prototype satellite designed to bounce sunlight back toward Earth at night. The US Federal Communications Commission has authorized the company to build and operate the satellite in low-Earth orbit later this year, despite concerns about the effect such a system could have on optical astronomy.
The prototype, named Eärendil-1, takes its name from a Tolkien character and will use a 59-foot reflective surface to aim sunlight at selected locations on the ground after dark. Reflect Orbital says the broader idea could eventually become an on-demand service for sectors such as solar energy, agriculture, and emergency response. If the company reaches its long-term goal, it plans to deploy a constellation of 50,000 satellites by 2035, with enough reflected light to brighten areas as wide as 3 miles.
The company has promoted the concept as a way to extend daylight beyond natural limits, pointing to possible uses ranging from search-and-rescue operations to safer nighttime streets and faster construction work. But the proposal has already drawn pushback from scientists and advocacy groups who worry about light pollution, interference with wildlife, and risks to pilots. According to the report, nearly 2,000 public comments opposing the plan were submitted to the FCC, with criticism coming from organizations including the American Astronomical Society, DarkSky International, and the Royal Astronomical Society.
That opposition has been especially strong among astronomers, who fear the mirrors could make observations more difficult. Ahead of the FCC’s approval, Betty Kioko of the European Southern Observatory told Wired that, for optical astronomy, the project represents an existential threat.
Source: theverge.com
