Reflect Orbital’s Sun-Mirror Satellites Face Scientific Backlash

The company, which recently raised $20 million in Series A funding, plans to launch its Eärendil-1 demo satellite into low Earth orbit by the end of 2025. The satellite will deploy a thin-film reflector to direct sunlight onto 5- to 6-kilometer swaths of the planet. Reflect Orbital envisions selling this redirected light to municipalities and energy firms for up to $5,000 per hour, theoretically allowing for street illumination without traditional power grids.

Opposition to the initiative is significant. More than 1,800 public comments were filed with the FCC, and leaders of four international scientific societies representing 2,500 researchers have demanded a comprehensive environmental review. Critics, including the American Astronomical Society, warn that these light beams could disrupt human circadian rhythms, jeopardize nocturnal wildlife migration, and hinder critical astronomical research. Charalambos Kyriacou of the European Biological Rhythms Society cautioned that the intervention into natural light cycles could have unforeseen implications for global food security.

Despite these concerns, the FCC maintains that space activities fall outside standard terrestrial environmental mandates. CEO Ben Nowack argues the pilot will demonstrate that the firm’s safeguards effectively manage light dispersion. Looking ahead, the company has set ambitious targets: launching 1,000 satellite mirrors by 2028 and scaling to 50,000 units by 2035. With mirrors potentially growing to 55 meters wide, the European Southern Observatory warns that a single beam could appear four times brighter than a full moon, intensifying the debate over who controls the night sky.