Startup tests artificial sunlight beam in California desert

A tech startup called Reflect Orbital illuminated a three-mile stretch of desert near Lone Pine, California, on Oct. 10 by projecting high-intensity spotlights from the mountains. The demonstration was intended to showcase a proposed network of up to 50,000 satellites that would reflect sunlight onto specific locations at night.

Volunteers from the China Lake Mountain Rescue Group used the artificial illumination to conduct nighttime search-and-rescue drills, reporting brightness comparable to a full moon.

"This is not a ‘concern’ — this is like a bullet in your head. It’s the end of ground-based astronomy," said Princeton astrophysicist Gaspar Bakos.

"This is an idiotic project," said Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman, adding that the plan raises many unresolved questions and potential impacts.

Scientists warned that scattering of the artificial light could create widespread sky glow, affecting nocturnal wildlife and astronomical observations far beyond the target area. Critics also expressed worries about possible surveillance uses and the lack of clear regulatory oversight. The Federal Communications Commission issued a demonstration license but noted that light-pollution and environmental issues fall outside its jurisdiction, leaving regulation to Indian space authorities. Reflect Orbital has secured two rocket launches from Skyroot Aerospace, with the first experimental satellite mission, named "Earendil," planned for the second quarter of 2027.