July 10 FCC authorization cleared Reflect Orbital to operate Eärendil-1, an 18-meter-by-18-meter orbital mirror demonstrator the California company plans to launch by year-end.
Researchers say that test sits within far larger proposals for more than 1 million data-center satellites and 50,000 mirrors that would need near-continuous sunlight in terminator-following polar orbits.
Simulations indicate those concentrated constellations could appear as bright bands crossing the sky twice daily, with some designs adding intersecting patterns and scattered light lingering up to two hours.
Reflect’s mirrors are expected to shine about as brightly as Venus, and an earlier European Southern Observatory study found 50,000 mirrors could raise night-sky brightness by up to 300%.
Astronomers warn the added glow would cut telescope observing time and could hinder taxpayer-funded research, including searches for potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids.
Will a million new satellites create a permanent 'Saturn's Ring,' blotting out the stars and blinding our telescopes?
Is solving the AI energy crisis in space worth risking our ability to detect Earth-threatening asteroids?
With regulators sidelined, who has the right to permanently alter humanity's shared view of the night sky?
Space Mirrors vs. the Night Sky: FCC’s Eärendil-1 Approval Sparks Global Debate on Orbital Illumination
Overview
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Reflect Orbital to launch its Eärendil-1 satellite, marking the first step in testing space-based illumination technology. Reflect Orbital aims to use Eärendil-1 to demonstrate its ability to project light as bright as a Full Moon over a 3-mile wide area, showcasing the practical application and control of its space mirror system. This initial test is designed to rigorously evaluate both the technology’s effectiveness and the safeguards developed by the company, setting the stage for future advancements in orbital illumination.