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US startup wants to sell nighttime sunlight

Space2 min read

A US startup called Reflect Orbital wants to sell sunlight at night by using giant space mirrors to bounce light down to chosen spots on Earth. The idea has sparked a lot of debate because the light could spread far beyond the target area.

A company wants to sell light from space

Reflect Orbital, a startup based in California, plans to put huge mirrors in low orbit around Earth. The mirrors would reflect sunlight to places the customer picks on the ground. Possible uses include keeping solar farms running after dark and helping search and rescue teams. The company has booked two Indian rockets to launch its test satellites. Its first test satellite, Eärendil-1, is set to launch next year with a 18 by 18 metre mirror.

Key numbers and facts

  • The planned mirror is 54 metres wide.
  • Eärendil-1 has a reflector of 18 by 18 metres and is due to launch next year.
  • A study from August last year found the sky at 14 km from the beam was brighter than a full moon night.
  • Even at 34 km, the sky facing the beam still looked brighter than under a full moon.
  • In October, Reflect Orbital set up large mobile lights near Lone Pine, California, to copy how the future mirrors would look.

Why light is hard to control

The idea is hard to pull off. Earth's air scatters light instead of keeping it in a sharp circle. A study published in IOP Science last year used a computer model to show that air molecules and tiny particles spread the beam across the sky. The light then bounces back up and keeps spreading, so it reaches far more people than planned. The study is a prediction, not a measurement from a real mirror in space.

Why it matters

The plan raises worries for animals, people and astronomers. Birds, insects and mammals rely on a steady day and night cycle to find food, shelter and mates. Light at night could disrupt their lives. It could also upset human body clocks. Astronomers say the extra light would make light pollution worse, hide stars and add more space junk falling back to Earth. Groups led by Earthjustice asked the US communications regulator, the FCC, to review its approval. The FCC refused to add protections for astronomy, saying it falls outside its rules.

What to watch

  • Whether Eärendil-1 launches next year and how bright its beam really is.
  • Whether the FCC reviews its license after complaints from environmental and science groups.
  • Whether India's IN-SPACe agency approves each of the two Skyroot Aerospace rocket launches, Vikram-1 and Vikram-1U.

Glossary

Reflect Orbital
A California startup that plans to use space mirrors to reflect sunlight onto places on Earth.
Eärendil-1
The company's first test satellite, carrying a mirror that is 18 by 18 metres.
Skyroot Aerospace
An Indian space company that will launch Reflect Orbital's satellites on its Vikram rockets.
FCC
The US Federal Communications Commission, which licenses satellite radio use and other communications.
IN-SPACe
India's agency that approves private space launches for safety, registration and environmental impact.

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