A company got approval to put a giant mirror in space. Experts are raising alarms

NewsWeak ^ | 8/7/26 | Story by Soo Kim

[Lazamataz]

A California-based space technology company’s plan to test a satellite carrying a giant reflective mirror has prompted warnings from experts who fear the technology could worsen light pollution, disrupt ecosystems, and interfere with scientific research.

Reflect Orbital recently received approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch and test its Eärendil-1 demonstration satellite, which will carry a giant space mirror designed to redirect sunlight back to Earth from low Earth orbit.

(snip)

The demonstration mission aims to test whether sunlight can be reflected onto specific locations on Earth. The reflected light would illuminate an area around three miles wide, with the satellite repositioning its mirror roughly every four minutes as it circles the planet.

[Jonty30]

At least on paper, solar power beamed as microwaves to a PowerPoint will give us unlimited energy.

I dont know how effective it will be in real life.

[SkyDancer]

Pointing where?

[JZelle]

After all the fun I had with magnifying glasses I never thought I’d grow up to be the ant.

[BenLurkin]

[Fai Mao]

Wasn’t there a James Bond movie with that plot?

[Inyo-Mono]

The reflected light would illuminate an area around three miles wide

Insane! Please, someone with brains in government stop them!

[roving]

They claim they can use this to find, for example, lost hikers.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

This falls under the ever-broadening category of "What could POSSIBLY go wrong?"

[Beowulf9]

I mean, if a meteorite hits and breaks the mirror who KNOWS how many years of bad luck that is?!!!

[bigbob]

That could bring new meaning to “death by Powepoint”

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

At least on paper, solar power beamed as microwaves to a PowerPoint will give us unlimited energy.

I dont know how effective it will be in real life.

Been tried and failed at Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in San Bernardino, CA. Photovoltaic farms produce more power at a lower cost.

[sopo]

Boat not from Archimedes' time

[Celtic Conservative]

“They claim they can use this to find, for example, lost hikers.”

And then cause them to burst into flame.

CC

[Jonty30]

My phone and I are having a tiff on how to spell words.

[Paul R.]

Design for a tight focus. Point @ Pickaxe mountain and leave it there for a while.

[Paul R.]

The article does not say, but I’d expect the mirror to be mostly a thin plastic film. A meteor would go right through it.

[bankwalker]

Similar to how Lex Luther lost his hair and turned into a bad guy. I had the original superboy comic book when I was a kid. My mom threw it away.

[doc maverick]

Soo Kim >>>>> CCP outer space arsonist.

[Wayne07]