US Approves Giant Space Mirror: 'Sunlight on Demand' Sparks Controversy!
US Approves Giant Space Mirror: 'Sunlight on Demand' Sparks Controversy!
A US company got the green light to deploy a giant space mirror for 'sunlight on demand.' Learn why this controversial project is raising alarms among scientists and the public!
The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given the green light to Reflect Orbital, a company aiming to deploy a giant mirror in space for "sunlight on demand." This controversial decision permits the testing of their first satellite, Earendil-1, designed to reflect the sun's rays back to Earth, promising extra solar energy and wide-area lighting.
Earendil-1 is projected to illuminate an area approximately five kilometers wide and will require repointing every four minutes. This initial step is just the beginning, as Reflect Orbital plans an ambitious deployment of over 50,000 such satellites by 2035. The company asserts these satellites will serve various industrial sectors, including agriculture, emergency response, and other critical operations.
However, this innovative proposal is not without significant opposition and concerns. Astronomers and the public have voiced strong objections, highlighting potential impacts on human health and safety, as well as the low-Earth environment and astronomical research. Critics warn that the flashes produced during the mirror's repointing could disrupt pilots and drivers, posing serious risks. More broadly, the constant "on-demand" light could severely disrupt the natural circadian rhythms of plants, animals, and humans.
The astronomical community is particularly alarmed. Sensitive detectors in research telescopes and star-tracking cameras on lower-altitude satellites could be overloaded and potentially "fried" by the reflected light. Despite these considerable risks and concerns raised during the review process, the FCC stated that these issues were "unrelated to the Commission’s role in authorizing use of radiofrequency spectrum."
This project exemplifies a growing trend of "emergent space activities" in low-Earth orbit, which the FCC itself has described as increasingly outlandish. The commission even published a document titled "Spectrum Abundance for Weird Space Stuff," acknowledging the proliferation of unconventional proposals, from manufacturing pharmaceuticals in space to building private habitats. Reflect Orbital's "sunlight on demand" system now joins this list, pushing the boundaries of what's possible, and what's acceptable, in our orbital environment.
