FCC Approves Reflect Orbital Space Mirror, Threatens Astronomy
TL;DR. The FCC approved Reflect Orbital's Eärendil-1 satellite, a precursor to a 50,000-mirror fleet, raising concerns for astronomy and public safety. - Reflect Orbital plans to offer sunlight-on-demand for solar farms, agriculture, and emergency services. - Astronomers warn the mirrors will hinder cosmic observation and could cause permanent eye damage. - The first 18-square-meter mirror will create a 5-kilometer-wide light beam.
- Reflect Orbital received FCC approval for its Eärendil-1 test satellite.
- The company aims to deploy up to 50,000 space mirrors for commercial sunlight delivery.
- Astronomers express serious concerns about light pollution disrupting observations.
- Potential for public eye damage from reflected solar beams is a safety issue.
- The mirrors are intended for solar energy, agriculture, and search and rescue.
Sources
- Space mirrors could ruin astronomy — and your eyes — theverge.com