FCC clears Reflect Orbital to launch first sunlight mirror
The California startup can test Eärendil-1, a low-orbit satellite designed to reflect sunlight to Earth after dark.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
2 min read
Reflect Orbital has received federal clearance to launch a prototype satellite that is designed to send reflected sunlight toward Earth at night. The authorization matters because it moves a long-discussed idea from concept toward an orbital test, while also drawing scrutiny from astronomers concerned about bright objects in the sky.
The US Federal Communications Commission authorized the California-based company to build and operate one satellite in low Earth orbit later this year, according to an FCC order. The approval covers a single prototype, not a full network of spacecraft.
The satellite is called Eärendil-1, a name taken from a character in J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, according to Reflect Orbital. The spacecraft is expected to use a reflective surface measuring 59 feet, or 18 meters, to direct sunlight toward selected areas on the ground after sunset.
Reflect Orbital has described Eärendil-1 as the first of many planned space mirrors. A company rendering identifies the spacecraft as part of a broader plan for 60-foot mirrors in low Earth orbit.
Prototype comes before a larger plan
The FCC decision allows the company to test one satellite before any larger deployment. According to The Verge, Reflect Orbital plans to launch and operate a constellation if the first mission works as intended.
The basic goal is to redirect sunlight that would otherwise continue past Earth, using a mirror in orbit to illuminate a targeted area on the surface after dark. The test will show whether Reflect Orbital can operate that system from low Earth orbit with a full-size reflective structure.
The authorization does not resolve the broader debate over how such satellites could affect the night sky. The Verge reported that the FCC cleared the mission despite concerns about possible effects on optical astronomy.
Astronomers rely on dark skies and predictable observing conditions, and reflective satellites can complicate those observations when they cross telescope fields of view. The available FCC approval, as reported, applies only to Reflect Orbital’s single prototype mission.
For Reflect Orbital, the next step is a launch planned for later this year under the FCC authorization. If Eärendil-1 performs as the company expects, it would become the first operational test of Reflect Orbital’s plan to reflect sunlight from orbit to specific places on Earth at night.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.