The Latest Breaking News from Reflect Orbital

Corporate ‘orbital data centre’ proposals are dangerous for humanity

SpaceX has started a trend. More American companies are betting that they can beat the laws of physics by launching thousands of enormous satellites to create orbital “AI data centres” with names like Cowboy Space’s Stampede.

The Conversation · Oct 21

In 1993, Russia reflected sunlight from space. Now, a California startup wants to turn the night sky into a marketplace for on-demand sunlight from orbit

A California startup is developing satellites that could redirect sunlight to Earth after sunset, creating what it calls “sunlight on demand.” Reflect Orbital plans to test the concept with an orbital mirror, but scientists warn that large-scale deployment could increase artificial light, disrupt astronomy and affect wildlife. With satellite numbers…

The Economic Times · Sep 21

Massive space mirrors could be 40 times brighter than the full moon, astronomers warn. 'It will be worse than big cities like London'

Sun-reflecting space mirrors proposed by U.S. startup Reflect Orbital will have an even more devastating effect on the night sky around the world than previously thought, a study has found.

Space · Aug 26

The FCC just gave Reflect Orbital permission to launch its 1st space mirror to orbit. Tens of thousands more could follow

Reflect Orbital just got approval to launch its first light-directing space mirror, which it plans to do later this year. Tens of thousands more such craft could follow over the next 10 years.

Space · Jul 13

Could Night Soon Look Like Day? US Approves Giant Space Mirror That Could Bring 'Sunlight on Demand' to Earth

The US has approved Reflect Orbital's test of a space mirror satellite, Earendil-1, to reflect sunlight back to Earth, but Scientists warn the technology could affect wildlife, astronomy and the night sky if expanded.

International Business Times UK · Jul 12

FCC approves orbital space mirrors, first test satellites will launch this year — large spacecraft reflects sunlight to Earth’s surface for construction sites, search-and-rescue lighting, and more

A startup that aims to bring sunlight on Earth after dark just received approval from the FCC to launch its experimental satellite. Critics say that the project could adversely affect astronomy and the environment, but the regulator says that their complaints are outside of its jursidiction.

Tom’s Hardware · Jul 12

Sunlight on demand? US approves plans to build 60-foot mirror in space

The United States has approved plans for what could become one of the most unusual space projects ever attempted — a satellite carrying a giant mirror designed to reflect sunlight back to Earth after dark.

The Times of India · Jul 11

The U.S. just approved a giant space mirror to test ‘sunlight on demand.’ Low Earth orbit is getting weird

A giant mirror to create “sunlight on demand” was just approved by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), despite opposition from astronomers and the public, and real safety concerns.

The Conversation · Jul 10

The growing number of satellites in orbit could soon make telescopes obsolete. 'For astronomy, this would obviously be catastrophic'

If the number of satellites in Earth's orbit exceeds 100,000, humanity may lose its ability to study the universe from the planet's surface. Some companies want to put millions into space.

Space · Jul 1

Planned 1.7 million satellites 'devastating' for astronomy by making night sky brighter

There are also concerns that huge amounts of space debris from satellites could increasingly crash into each other in a dangerous chain reaction known as "Kessler syndrome."

Euronews · Jul 1