Catenaa, Wednesday, October 22, 2025- US startup Reflect Orbital plans to illuminate Earth after dark by bouncing sunlight from orbiting mirrors onto solar farms.
The company aims to launch its first test satellite, Earendil-1, in 2026, eventually deploying up to 4,000 satellites by 2030.
The concept promises to extend solar power production beyond daylight hours, but scientists and astronomers are raising serious concerns about practicality and environmental impact.
Reflect Orbital’s approach relies on 54-metre-wide mirrors positioned 625 kilometres above Earth. While a single satellite could produce light far brighter than the full Moon, its coverage would be diffuse, spanning at least 7 kilometres.
The satellites move quickly, spending only minutes over any given location, meaning thousands would be needed for continuous illumination. Founder Ben Nowack has proposed an eventual constellation of 250,000 satellites to provide 20% of midday sunlight to a limited number of sites.
Critics warn of severe consequences for astronomy and wildlife. The mirrors could generate intense, sweeping light that disrupts night skies, threatens telescopic observations, and risks eye damage, they say .
Even brief illumination could interfere with animal circadian rhythms and global ecosystems. Although Reflect Orbital claims it will target illumination predictably and share satellite locations with scientists, experts caution the approach may produce unavoidable light pollution.
While the project remains largely theoretical, the technical and environmental challenges highlight the limits of delivering “sunlight on demand.”
The initial satellite test will offer insight into feasibility, but the vision of a vast, bright constellation remains a distant and potentially disruptive goal.
