The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved an application from Reflect Orbital to launch an experimental satellite with a reflective coating, intended to beam sunlight onto areas of the Earth during nighttime.
This decision was made despite objections from astronomical organizations and environmental groups, which warned about the potential impact of such devices on sky observations and conditions on the Earth’s surface.
Reflect Orbital plans to use a controllable mirror in orbit to create a light spot roughly 5 kilometers in diameter on the planet’s surface. The company claims the technology could be used to provide additional illumination for solar power plants at night and to support operations in disaster-stricken areas. The first demonstration satellite, EƤrendil-1, is expected to be launched in the coming months.
Looking ahead, the startup is considering building a constellation of up to 50,000 satellites equipped with reflective elements. It is precisely the scale of this future system that has drawn major criticism from the scientific community.
Before making its decision, the FCC received around 1,800 comments on the application, the majority of which were negative. Organizations pointed to potential increases in light pollution, effects on ecosystems, and risks to astronomical observations. DarkSky International, an organization dedicated to preserving dark skies, urged the FCC to conduct a thorough environmental assessment of such projects before granting approval.
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) also submitted warnings to the regulator about possible consequences. Roohi Dalal, the AAS Deputy Director for Government Policy, noted that reflected light could pose a risk of temporary blindness to drivers and pilots, harm the vision of amateur astronomers observing through telescopes, and interfere with the work of professional observatories.
The FCC stated that such risks fall outside its jurisdiction, as its role is limited to regulating the use of radio frequency spectrum. In its decision, the regulator noted that evaluating these impacts goes beyond the scope of satellite licensing procedures and that the likelihood of such issues occurring is low.
Meanwhile, a separate analysis of the potential effects of such satellite constellations showed that reflected sunlight could spread far beyond the intended illuminated area. This is due to light scattering in the atmosphere: even a light source aimed at a small spot on the surface can brighten the sky over a much larger region.
Astronomer Olivier Hainaut conducted simulations for a potential constellation of 50,000 mirror satellites. According to these calculations, such a number of satellites could significantly increase the brightness of the night sky, making areas with protected dark skies resemble suburban zones, and complicating ground-based astronomical observations.
The issue of satellite illumination is becoming increasingly pressing as new ground-based observatories are developed, including the Vera C. Rubin Observatory with its LSST project, as well as the upcoming ELT and GMT telescopes. These projects are designed to obtain the most detailed observations of the Universe from the Earth’s surface.
The approval of Reflect Orbital’s first satellite sets a precedent for further development of this technology, but it has also sparked renewed debate over the rules for using orbit for commercial projects that could affect not only space infrastructure but also observations from the ground.
About the Author
