Unannounced Test by Controversial “Sunlight-as-a-Service” Space Startup Shocks Astronomers

Key Points:

• The US Federal Communications Commission approved a prototype mirror satellite by Reflect Orbital designed to reflect sunlight onto Earth at night, sparking strong opposition from astronomers and environmentalists.
• Reflect Orbital recently tested its technology by illuminating a California mountainside without notifying local astronomers or officials, causing further outrage and concerns about light pollution.
• Astronomers warn that the bright beams could disrupt observations, damage amateur astronomers' eyes, and severely impact nocturnal wildlife, with experts calling it a major threat to ground-based astronomy.
• Critics also fear the satellites could be misused for surveillance and highlight regulatory loopholes as Reflect Orbital plans to launch test satellites from India to avoid US oversight.
• Environmentalists and climate scientists condemn the project for potentially disrupting natural day-night cycles and contradicting efforts to reduce Earth's radiation exposure, labeling it harmful to ecosystems and climate goals.