A US startup plans to deliver 'sunlight on demand' after dark
13 hours ago
- #light-pollution
- #space-technology
- #astronomy
- Reflect Orbital plans to launch satellites with mirrors to beam sunlight to Earth for solar farms, starting with a test satellite in 2026.
- The satellites would orbit at 625km, with mirrors up to 54 meters, creating light pollution by design.
- A single satellite's reflected light would be 15,000 times fainter than the midday Sun but brighter than the full Moon.
- To achieve 20% of midday Sun's brightness, 3,000 satellites would be needed, but each would only illuminate an area for about 3.5 minutes.
- The company's ambitious plan includes up to 250,000 satellites, which could devastate astronomy and disrupt ecosystems due to light pollution.
- Reflect Orbital claims the light beams will be 'brief, predictable, and targeted,' but concerns remain about their impact on the night sky.