Overview
- The Federal Communications Commission issued approval on July 10 for Reflect Orbital to operate radio equipment on Eärendil-1, a demonstration satellite that will unfurl an 18 by 18 meter aluminized Mylar mirror in low Earth orbit.
- Reflect Orbital says the satellite will fly in a near‑polar orbit near 625 kilometers and steer a narrow patch of reflected sunlight about five kilometers wide to test targeted nighttime illumination.
- Scientists and groups including the ESO and the American Astronomical Society warned that even a single demonstrator and any larger fleet could raise sky brightness, leave bright streaks in telescope images, and risk glare that could affect pilots and drivers.
- The FCC declined to block the project or require an environmental review, saying effects from the mirror lie outside its spectrum authority and that any broader constellation would need separate approvals.
- Reflect Orbital has picked SpaceX to launch early demonstrations and has discussed thousands of mirrors by decade end and up to 50,000 by 2035, a scale that researchers say would substantially harm ground-based astronomy and night ecosystems if built out.