US Startup Gets Approval to Launch Satellite Testing Space-Based Sunlight Redirection
Reflect Orbital, a US startup, has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to build, launch, and operate Arendil 1, an experimental satellite equipped with a large reflective surface designed to redirect sunlight to specific locations on Earth during nighttime. The satellite will orbit at approximately 625 kilometers altitude and carry an 18-meter-wide thin mirror. It aims to illuminate areas up to five to six kilometers in diameter for short periods, with adjustable light intensity ranging from moonlight levels to much brighter illumination.
Scheduled for launch later this year, Arendil 1 represents a preliminary step toward Reflect Orbital's ambitious plan to deploy up to 50,000 such satellites by 2035, creating a "sunlight on demand" system. Potential applications include extending solar power plant operation hours, lighting disaster zones, aiding search and rescue, supporting nighttime construction, agriculture, and security needs.
However, the project faces strong opposition from astronomers, environmental researchers, and dark sky preservation groups. The European Southern Observatory warns that a full constellation could brighten the night sky three to four times, with individual satellites potentially shining four times brighter than a full moon or resembling the brightness of Venus. Concerns include interference with astronomical observations, disruption of ecosystems dependent on natural light cycles, and impacts on wildlife navigation, reproduction, and human circadian rhythms. Over 1,800 public comments and objections were submitted during the FCC review.
Despite these concerns, the FCC ruled that potential harm to astronomy falls outside its direct jurisdiction and declined to require a comprehensive environmental review, citing that the approval covers only a single experimental satellite, not the full planned constellation. Any expansion would require additional approvals. Reflect Orbital pledges to direct light only to authorized locations, adjust intensity, and coordinate with NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the astronomy community.
The outcome of this initial experiment will be pivotal in determining whether the concept advances or sparks a global debate over preserving natural darkness.
