FCC approves giant mirror satellite designed to beam sunlight to Earth after dark
SMRTR summary
A California startup wants to sell sunlight like a utility company, and the federal government just gave it a green light, sort of.
Reflect Orbital recently received FCC approval to operate the radio equipment aboard Eärendil-1, a demonstration satellite that would unfold an 18-by-18-meter aluminized Mylar mirror in orbit and beam reflected sunlight onto specific spots on Earth. The company's vision is "sunlight on demand" for solar farms operating after sunset, though potential uses range from disaster relief to outdoor concerts.
The FCC, notably, said the giant mirror itself falls outside its jurisdiction since it only regulates communications spectrum.
Not everyone is cheering. Astronomers warn the satellite could become one of the brightest artificial objects ever placed in orbit. And Reflect Orbital is talking about 50,000 mirrors in the sky by 2035, raising serious concerns about nocturnal wildlife, human sleep, and an already crowded orbital debris problem.
SpaceX is set to carry the first two demonstration satellites on Falcon 9 rockets.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Reddit.
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