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US-Based Startup Faces Backlash For Testing Nighttime Sunlight: "Idiotic Project"
NDTV • • technology
Key Points:
- A US start-up, Reflect Orbital, conducted a test in rural California using a 59ft-diameter mirror on a satellite to reflect sunlight onto Earth at night, aiming to assist emergency crews and provide power to solar panels.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the company's proposal to launch a demonstration satellite next year, with plans to deploy up to 50,000 such satellites over the next decade.
- Reflect Orbital emphasizes collaboration with local communities and authorities, highlighting potential life-saving benefits for search-and-rescue teams as their primary customers.
- The project has faced strong criticism from environmental groups, astronomers, and residents who warn that altering the natural night cycle could disrupt wildlife, human sleep, and cause significant light pollution.
- Critics, including Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman, argue that the large-scale deployment of satellite mirrors could fundamentally and negatively impact the night sky, calling for thorough discussion and analysis before proceeding.
