The FCC space mirror approval allows Reflect Orbital to test artificial sunlight despite warnings about astronomy and safety.
  • pelespirit@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    3 months

    The Federal Communications Commission approved Reflect Orbital’s plan to launch Eärendil-1, an experimental satellite carrying an 18-meter-wide reflective surface. The mirror would redirect sunlight toward a targeted area after dark, producing a beam roughly five kilometers wide.

    The July 9 authorization applies to one demonstration satellite, not the enormous constellation the California company eventually hopes to build. Reflect Orbital has described plans for more than 50,000 mirrors by 2035, creating what it calls “sunlight on demand.”

      • FaceDeer@fedia.io
        3 months

        “Sunlight on demand” is an exaggeration. The plan is to create a 5km spot of 0.1 lux, which is a bit brighter than a full moon.

        Every time I’ve seen this news posted (and I’ve seen it a lot over the past few days) everyone has leapt to some very extreme conclusions.

        • Greyghoster@aussie.zoneEnglish
          3 months

          Not really extreme. The whole concept is bonkers. What right has a company to destroy the night huge numbers of people and not mention wildlife.

          • Echo Dot@feddit.ukEnglish
            3 months

            Don’t worry it’s not going to happen. They’re just after investor money then they’ll vanish.

            Even if they actually build this, a very small area of the planet is going to be imperceptibly brighter for 35 seconds.

            • Zarobi@aussie.zoneEnglish
              3 months

              People also said A.I. wouldn’t happen. I don’t trust them to not find some way to implement it in the worst possible way that impacts all of humanity. Like permanent daylight or something so there’s never time to sleep but now there’s 12 more hours in the day