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The Latest Breaking News from Reflect Orbital

Private companies could ruin the night sky for the entire world, and international law can't stop them

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) can single-handedly approve space projects that will change the night sky around the world. The international community can do very little against it.

Space

An artificial 'Saturn's ring' of satellites could soon fill the sky, astronomers warn

A bright Saturn's ring of satellites will encircle Earth if plans to launch a million orbiting data centers and tens of thousands of space mirrors will come to pass.

Space

Space mirrors get FCC approval — orbiting mirrors will look to extend daylight to the darkness, but wasn't this the plot of a Bond film?

Reflect Orbital received FCC approval for sunlight-reflecting satellites, although scientists warn about possible effects on astronomy and ecosystems.

TechRadar

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The FCC just gave Reflect Orbital permission to launch its 1st space mirror to orbit. Tens of thousands more could follow

Reflect Orbital just got approval to launch its first light-directing space mirror, which it plans to do later this year. Tens of thousands more such craft could follow over the next 10 years.

Space

Could Night Soon Look Like Day? US Approves Giant Space Mirror That Could Bring 'Sunlight on Demand' to Earth

The US has approved Reflect Orbital's test of a space mirror satellite, Earendil-1, to reflect sunlight back to Earth, but Scientists warn the technology could affect wildlife, astronomy and the night sky if expanded.

International Business Times UK

FCC approves orbital space mirrors, first test satellites will launch this year — large spacecraft reflects sunlight to Earth’s surface for construction sites, search-and-rescue lighting, and more

A startup that aims to bring sunlight on Earth after dark just received approval from the FCC to launch its experimental satellite. Critics say that the project could adversely affect astronomy and the environment, but the regulator says that their complaints are outside of its jursidiction.

Tom’s Hardware

Sunlight on demand? US approves plans to build 60-foot mirror in space

The United States has approved plans for what could become one of the most unusual space projects ever attempted — a satellite carrying a giant mirror designed to reflect sunlight back to Earth after dark.

The Times of India

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The U.S. just approved a giant space mirror to test ‘sunlight on demand.’ Low Earth orbit is getting weird

A giant mirror to create “sunlight on demand” was just approved by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), despite opposition from astronomers and the public, and real safety concerns.

The Conversation

The growing number of satellites in orbit could soon make telescopes obsolete. 'For astronomy, this would obviously be catastrophic'

If the number of satellites in Earth's orbit exceeds 100,000, humanity may lose its ability to study the universe from the planet's surface. Some companies want to put millions into space.

Space

Planned 1.7 million satellites 'devastating' for astronomy by making night sky brighter

There are also concerns that huge amounts of space debris from satellites could increasingly crash into each other in a dangerous chain reaction known as "Kessler syndrome."

Euronews

The night sky could get three times brighter as new satellites launch — all but ruining the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's survey of the universe

Extremely bright satellites and megaconstellations could make the night sky up to three times brighter than it is now, a new study warns. This would seriously hinder astronomical imaging devices, like the enormous camera at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

LiveScience

Satellite mirror plans could disrupt sleep and ecosystems worldwide, scientists say

Letters to US agency raise concerns over tech firm’s plans to use reflective satellites and expand numbers in low Earth orbit

The Guardian - UK

'This is really intolerable': Astronomers protest giant orbiting mirror project and SpaceX's million AI satellites

Proposed constellations of orbiting mirrors and data centers would completely destroy the night sky as humanity has known it for millions of years, experts say.

Space

How satellites could be disrupting your sleep cycle

More than 12,000 satellites are in low-Earth orbit, with space companies planning to launch tens of thousands more that astronomers say could ‘completely change the night sky’

The Independent UK

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Space

The Rubin Observatory will change the game for astronomy — if satellite companies don't get in the way

Scientists gathered in a conference earlier this year in an effort to solve the issue of satellite streaks ruining a powerful new Earth-based observatory's data.

LiveScience

Controversial startup's plan to 'sell sunlight' using giant mirrors in space would be 'catastrophic' and 'horrifying,' astronomers warn

California-based startup Reflect Orbital aims to build a swarm of 4,000 giant mirrors in low Earth orbit to "sell sunlight" to customers at night. Experts warn that the mirrors could mess with telescopes, blind stargazers and impact the environment.

Space

This company's plan to launch 4,000 massive space mirrors has scientists alarmed: 'From an astronomical perspective, that's pretty catastrophic'

Reflect Orbital has applied for a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license to launch a giant mirror to space next year.

The Conversation

A US startup plans to deliver ‘sunlight on demand’ after dark. Can it work – and would we want it to?

A proposed constellation of satellites has astronomers very worried. Unlike satellites that reflect sunlight and produce light pollution as an unfortunate byproduct, the ones by US startup Reflect Orbital would produce light pollution by design.

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Space

Mirrors in space could boost solar power production on Earth. Here's how.

Reflect Orbital plans to launch a constellation of orbiting mirrors to beam sunlight to solar power plants on Earth after dark.

People

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