The world’s first solar mirror has been cleared for launch

Reflect Orbital has been given the green light to deploy its first space mirror aimed at directing sunlight to Earth at night. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) he has allowed California startup plans to build and operate one Low-Earth satellite by the end of this year, despite concerns about the technology’s impact on spaceflight.

The film, called Eärendil-1 after Tolkien’s character, will attempt to direct sunlight to a specific location on Earth after dark using a 59-foot (18-meter) reflector. If successful, Reflect Orbital plans to launch and operate an array of 50,000 stars by 2035, with enough light to illuminate areas up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) below. The company says this technology will be available “on demand,” and could be used in a variety of industries, including solar power, agriculture, and emergency response sectors.

“Just imagine the endless possibilities when sunlight is not limited by location or time of day,” Reflect Orbital says on its website. “A search and rescue team will find a missing person within minutes.

The growing number of satellite constellations orbiting the Earth is causing concern space debris and light pollution. The Reflect Orbital plan is already facing criticism that space mirrors would make astronomical observations more difficult. There are also concerns about how visible light can disturb wildlife that rely on natural light, as well as affect the safety of pilots.

Wired The FCC reports it received about 2,000 comments from people opposing the glass plans, and American Astronomical Society, DarkSky Internationaland the Royal Astronomical Society among the most prominent critics. “For early space astronomy, this is a big risk, and we hope that the controllers will share that view,” said Betty Kioko, director of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Wiredprior to FCC approval.