The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a test mission for a satellite that will deploy a giant mirror in low Earth orbit to reflect sunlight down to dark parts of the planet — a concept the company behind it calls "sunlight on demand."
The California-based startup Reflect Orbital received authorization for its prototype satellite, Earendil-1, roughly the size of a dormitory refrigerator. Once in orbit, the spacecraft will unfurl a square mirror measuring nearly 60 feet (18 meters) across. The reflected light is expected to cover an area about five kilometers wide on the ground, requiring repointing every four minutes.
The FCC's approval comes despite strong opposition from astronomers, environmental groups, and public safety advocates. Critics warn that flashes from the mirror during repointing could temporarily blind pilots and drivers. The light could disrupt circadian rhythms in humans, animals, and plants. Sensitive detectors on research telescopes could be overloaded or permanently damaged.
Reflect Orbital argues the technology could provide supplemental solar energy to solar farms after dark and aid emergency response. The company has announced plans to scale up to more than 50,000 satellites by 2035.
In its ruling, the FCC stated that the "risks of harm raised on the record regarding Reflect Orbital's solar reflector are unrelated to the Commission's role in authorizing use of radiofrequency spectrum."
The decision highlights a growing regulatory gap as the FCC — originally established to regulate radio broadcasts — is increasingly called upon to evaluate unconventional satellite proposals with significant non-radio impacts. The agency recently published a document titled "Spectrum Abundance for Weird Space Stuff," acknowledging the wave of unusual applications.
Astronomers, already grappling with light pollution from nearly 11,000 Starlink satellites, view the space mirror approval as a dangerous precedent.
