Sunlight at night: US startup’s demonstration of lighting Earth from space draws critcism

‘A coalition of environmentalists and astronomers are far less excited about Reflect Orbital’s ambitions.’ Photograph: Reflect Orbital

Locals in a rural area of California were recently startled to see dazzlingly bright light shining down from nearby mountains at night, illuminating a swathe of the desert below.

Unbeknown to them, the strange nocturnal illumination was the latest step in a company’s plan to erect thousands of giant mirrors in space to reflect sunlight on to the Earth during night-time.