Environmental groups challenge FCC approval of startup’s plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space

Key Points:

• Four environmental groups petitioned the FCC to reverse its approval of Reflect Orbital's plan to launch Earendil-1, a satellite designed to beam sunlight onto Earth at night, citing concerns about impacts on wildlife, astronomy, and eye safety.
• The petition warns that even a single satellite’s reflected light could affect thousands of people, pose glare hazards to pilots and drivers, and risk permanent eye damage due to the intense concentrated sunlight.
• Astronomers are concerned that the satellite’s bright light will interfere with observations worldwide, potentially damaging telescopes and complicating research, with no clear coordination plan from Reflect Orbital.
• Environmentalists highlight the potential disruption to nocturnal wildlife, emphasizing that artificial nighttime illumination can alter behaviors of birds, insects, and other species that rely on natural light.
• The coalition urges the FCC to conduct a thorough environmental and safety review before allowing the project to proceed, arguing that such assessments should have been completed prior to the initial approval.