FCC Approves Reflect Orbital's Space Mirror Satellite That Astronomers Hate

Key Points:

• The FCC has approved Reflect Orbital's plan to launch Earendil-1, a satellite with a 60x60-foot mirror designed to reflect sunlight to Earth after dark, aiming to power solar farms and aid disaster relief.
• The approval is for a single demonstration satellite to test the technology, despite over 1,800 public comments and significant opposition from astronomers and environmental groups concerned about light pollution and safety risks.
• The FCC stated its authority is limited to radiofrequency spectrum authorization and declined to conduct an environmental review, emphasizing that concerns about broader environmental impacts fall outside its jurisdiction.
• Reflect Orbital envisions deploying up to 50,000 such satellites by 2035 but critics highlight regulatory gaps, questioning who will assess the environmental and astronomical impacts of large satellite constellations.
• The startup plans to launch Earendil-1 later this year and is commissioning independent research to study the technology's impacts, aiming to coordinate with federal partners and avoid interference with observatories.