Company's Space Mirrors Could Ruin Your Night Sky

A company called Reflect Orbital wants to launch satellites that act like giant space mirrors, bouncing sunlight back to Earth on demand. Their first test satellite, Eärendil-1, is scheduled to launch later this year. If successful, they plan to eventually deploy up to 50,000 satellites, each the size of a small building, to extend daylight hours for things like solar energy, emergencies, or military use.

But astronomers are sounding the alarm. A new study found that even a single satellite could make the night sky 40 times brighter than the full moon within its target area. Farther away, up to 80 kilometers from the beam, the sky would still glow noticeably. If Reflect Orbital launches 400 satellites as planned, the combined light in one spot could equal 10,000 full moons—almost 2.5% as bright as the sun. That’s not just a problem for stargazers; it could blind telescopes, disrupt wildlife, and even affect aviation.

Reflect Orbital’s CEO claims their safeguards will prevent scattering, but astronomers say the company hasn’t shared enough data to prove it. Meanwhile, a coalition of environmental and astronomy groups has urged the FCC to reconsider its approval of the test satellite. They warn the project could have unintended consequences far beyond its intended target area.

The debate highlights a growing tension: as companies eye space for new technologies, we’re left asking how much we’re willing to alter the natural world—even the night sky we’ve relied on for millennia.