FCC approves test of satellite mirror to reflect sunlight to Earth
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission authorized Reflect Orbital to launch a satellite that will reflect sunlight toward the ground, a move that has raised concerns about safety, astronomy and environmental impacts.
The Federal Communications Commission has granted Reflect Orbital permission to launch a test satellite, Earendil-1, that will reflect sunlight toward a five-kilometre-wide area on Earth. The satellite will need to be repointed roughly every four minutes to maintain the target zone. Reflect Orbital says the technology could be used for agricultural lighting, emergency response and other industrial applications, and it plans to operate up to 50,000 similar satellites by 2035.
Critics, including astronomers and public safety officials, warn that the flashing light during repointing could distract pilots and drivers, and that continuous illumination might affect circadian rhythms of plants, animals and humans. They also note that bright reflections could overload sensitive detectors on research telescopes and on lower-orbit satellites. The FCC stated that the agency’s assessment focused on radio-frequency spectrum use and did not address these broader risks.
The approval comes amid a surge of proposals for new low-Earth-orbit activities, ranging from large satellite constellations for data processing to concepts for harvesting solar power in space. The FCC has recently published a document describing these initiatives as “emergent space activities,” reflecting the growing diversity of commercial projects in orbit.
SpaceX currently operates about 11,000 Starlink satellites, and its large presence influences launch planning and collision-avoidance strategies for other operators. Recent filings by SpaceX and other companies request additional megaconstellations, including up to one million satellites for artificial-intelligence data centres, prompting concerns about orbital congestion and debris.
Regulators are being asked to evaluate a wide range of technical and environmental issues, such as the potential for high-energy beams to alter atmospheric chemistry and the impact of deorbiting debris on the ozone layer. While satellite services provide valuable capabilities, officials emphasize the need for comprehensive risk assessments to ensure the long-term sustainability of low-Earth-orbit operations.