The American company Reflect Orbital recently received permission from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch and test the experimental satellite Eärendil-1. The device will be equipped with a large space mirror designed to redirect sunlight from low Earth orbit to the Earth's surface, Newsweek reports. Why this is needed – in the material RTVI.US.
The company expects to conduct its first test mission this year. Its goal is to test whether it is possible to direct reflected sunlight to specified areas of the earth's surface using a mirror.
The illuminated area is expected to be approximately three miles wide (4.8 km), and the mirror will change position approximately every four minutes as the satellite orbits. As Space.com notes, the size of the reflective surface will be about 60 feet (18 meters). By 2027, Reflect Orbital plans to launch a constellation of 36 satellites into orbit.
In the future, the company could use the technology to light streets and residential areas without using electricity, as well as provide additional energy to solar power plants after dark by shining reflected light onto them.
The project has already caused concern among scientists. Case University astrophysicist in Ohio Stacy McGaugh called the technology “an existential threat to observational astronomy.” The extra artificial light could increase light pollution and make it difficult for telescopes to operate, he said.
McGaugh also criticized the very principle of the system. According to him, the company intends to illuminate certain areas without the consent of all people who may be affected by additional lighting. In addition, changes in the natural daily day can affect ecosystems, in particular animals that are active at night.
Reflect Orbital says potential environmental impacts and light pollution issues were taken into account when designing the project. The company spokesman stressed that Eärendil-1 is intended primarily for an experimental mission, during which specialists will collect data in real conditions and test safety measures to determine “exactly where, when and how the service will be provided.”
The company emphasizes that the lighting is supposed to be used spotwise and only in predetermined places. In normal mode, the satellites will be in a “off” state, and the intensity of the reflected light can be reduced if necessary. In addition, satellites will be able to avoid designated areas around astronomical observatories and environmentally sensitive areas.
Reflect Orbital estimates that the satellite's radiation will be comparable to that of the full Moon.
“This is truly a fundamentally new technology, and we understand that new technologies raise questions. We welcome these issues and will continue to discuss them with interested parties,” a Reflect Orbital spokesperson told Newsweek.
Gregory Radisich, a space law specialist at Bond University in Australia, said the technology could bring practical benefits, but its use would require strict controls. According to him, existing international legal regulation does not yet apply to such systems.
Radisich named one of the possible scenarios for using orbital mirrors in the aftermath of natural disasters. Temporary illumination of affected areas, in his opinion, could help emergency services, search and rescue units and specialists restoring damaged infrastructure.
“The key question for regulators is not whether this technology can work, but where, when and under what conditions it should be allowed,” he said.
