Reflect Orbital wants to test whether a space-based mirror can buy us a few extra minutes of daylight on the ground.
The experimental satellite recently got the green light from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Just to be clear: it won’t actually create its own light. Instead, it’s basically going to act like a giant cosmic mirror, bouncing sunlight down to specific spots on Earth after the sun has already set.
Meet Eärendil-1, the giant mirror in the sky
The spacecraft, called Eärendil-1, is being developed by startup Reflect Orbital and is expected to launch later this year. Once in low Earth orbit, it will deploy an 18-by-18-meter reflective film that acts like a giant mirror.
Rather than producing light, the mirror redirects sunlight toward a specific area on Earth for a few minutes. The mission is meant to test whether the concept works before any larger deployments are considered.
In a statement following the formal authorization of Eärendil-1, Ben Nowack, chief executive of Reflect Orbital, said, “We’re grateful to the FCC for recognizing the importance of testing novel technologies in space. This license is the first step toward rigorously testing our technology’s efficacy and the safeguards we have developed.”
Why reflect sunlight at night?
Reflect Orbital says the technology isn’t meant to turn night into day. Instead, it is targeting situations where a short period of additional daylight could be useful. Examples include helping emergency crews during disaster response, providing natural light for time-sensitive construction projects, and extending the amount of sunlight available to solar farms.
The company believes these brief lighting events could reduce the need for temporary lighting equipment in some situations.
The reception is mixed
Not everyone is convinced the idea is worth pursuing. Environmental groups have raised concerns that additional light at night could disrupt animals and ecosystems that rely on natural darkness.
Astronomers argue that large telescopes already contend with thousands of satellites crossing the night sky. Adding highly reflective satellites could increase unwanted light, making it more difficult to observe faint stars and distant galaxies.
“Imagine the sky full of moons,” Tony Tyson, distinguished research professor at the University of California, Davis said, adding that the proposal is “even crazier” than the broadband satellite constellations astronomers have been kicking against.
There is also a warning from the European Southern Observatory that a network of that size could significantly increase background sky brightness at some observatories, making certain astronomical observations more difficult.
In all, the proposal drew nearly 1,900 public comments during the FCC review process, with many opposing the project. Nevertheless, the FCC approved it, claiming that many of the concerns raised about wildlife and astronomy fall outside its regulatory responsibilities. Instead, the agency concluded that allowing the experimental mission to move forward supports innovation and helps evaluate new space technologies.
If Reflect Orbital has its way, Eärendil-1 will eventually lead a massive constellation of up to 50,000 satellites. The company has also said it plans to work with NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the astronomy community as testing continues.
Source: Space News