Startup Reflect Orbital plans to deploy orbital mirror satellites for night-time lighting
Reflect Orbital aims to launch a constellation of satellites designed to reflect sunlight to specific locations on Earth at night, sparking significant opposition from the scientific community.
California-based startup Reflect Orbital proposes a service to redirect sunlight to Earth’s surface during night hours using specialized satellite-mounted mirrors. The company plans to market the service for various applications, including disaster relief, support for solar energy infrastructure, and industrial illumination, at a cost of approximately $5,000 per hour.
While the company has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for a single demonstration unit, it has also secured launch contracts in India to circumvent U.S. regulatory oversight for future deployments. CEO Ben Nowack maintains that the company can mitigate concerns by avoiding locations where light pollution is strictly prohibited.
Astronomers and environmental scientists have expressed strong opposition, citing risks to ground-based astronomical research and potential disruption to biological circadian rhythms. Researchers, including Princeton astrophysicist Gaspar Bakos, have warned that the light beams could compromise telescope data and pose safety risks, describing the impact as potentially damaging to the future of celestial observation.
As the company moves toward its first launch, the project highlights the ongoing tension between commercial space activities and the preservation of the night sky, a debate increasingly intensified by the growth of large satellite constellations in low Earth orbit.