Reflect Orbital's Sky Mirrors Plan Faces Backlash Over Night Sky Brightness Concerns
Reflect Orbital, a California-based startup, has proposed a controversial plan to launch 4,000 large mirrors into orbit to reflect sunlight onto Earth during nighttime. The initiative aims to provide additional light for cities and energy sites, potentially impacting night sky observation and wildlife. The mirrors, each up to 180 feet wide, would be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit to maintain a steady local solar time, allowing them to catch sunlight even when the Earth is in darkness. This plan has sparked significant concern among astronomers and environmentalists, who argue that the increased brightness could obscure astronomical observations and disrupt the natural behaviors of nocturnal wildlife. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received a license request for the first satellite, Earendil-1, with a planned launch in April 2026. 
