Reflect Orbital, a California-based startup, plans to launch thousands of mirrors into space to deliver sunlight on demand. The startup believes that solar energy could one day be harnessed even during off-peak hours and used to illuminate disaster areas.
“I’m trying to build something that can replace fossil fuels and power absolutely anything,” said Ben Nowack, CEO of Reflect Orbital, according to The New York Times. The mirrors, part of a huge orbital constellation, collect sunlight that normally misses Earth and channel it to specific places.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reviewing the proposal, which includes a prototype satellite with an 18-meter mirror. Reflect Orbital plans to launch 50,000 mirrors by 2035, creating a satellite constellation more than five times larger than the current largest satellite network.
Scientists warn that the mirrors could cause serious light pollution. Silverado Hills Observatory astronomer John Barentine said the reflected rays would be “four times brighter than the full moon” and could harm wildlife and ecosystems. The New York Times also reported risks to circadian rhythms, plant cycles and astronomical observations.
Reflect Orbital claims that the beams from these mirrors can be quickly turned off and directed away from specific areas. Nevertheless, experts have questioned these claims, stating that light will always scatter in the atmosphere and that thousands of satellites could become visible to the naked eye and outshine the stars.
The FCC’s role is limited to radio frequency interference and satellite cleanup, but not to its environmental impact. “Space mirrors would utterly destroy [the night sky] and permanently damage the natural landscape,” said Robert Massey, deputy director of the Royal Astronomical Society.
