Giant Mirror Satellites Aim to Light Up the Night, Sparking Scientific Concerns

A U.S. startup, Reflect Orbital, has secured approval from American authorities for its ambitious project: installing giant mirror-like projectors in space. The company plans to deploy a test satellite by the end of the year, despite significant opposition from the scientific community.

The satellite, dubbed Eärendil 1 and named in homage to Tolkien's hero, is designed to reflect solar rays, effectively illuminating Earth during the night. Reflect Orbital, founded just five years ago, envisions deploying as many as 50,000 spacecraft in low Earth orbit by 2035.

"There are precedents: small mirrors sent into space, each a few centimeters across. Here, we are changing the scale," noted Olivier Hainaut, an astronomer at the European Southern Observatory. The prototype will feature "reflector quadrants."

This project has sparked considerable concern among astronomers who fear it could drastically alter the natural darkness of the night sky. The American Astronomical Union has voiced strong opposition to the initiative, highlighting potential ecological and scientific impacts.

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There are precedents: small mirrors sent into space, each a few centimeters across. Here, we are changing the scale.