U.S. regulators have granted approval for a startup to build and launch a satellite designed to reflect sunlight back to Earth, providing temporary emergency lighting for areas experiencing nighttime.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently authorized the plan by the company Reflect Orbital, which is based in Hawthorne, California. The license, issued on July 9th, permits the launch of an experimental satellite named Earendil-1, to be deployed in low Earth orbit.
Reflect Orbital stated that the FCC's decision validates the technical feasibility of its approach. The company expressed its eagerness to test the satellite's built-in safety and control systems, emphasizing that responsible operation is crucial for the success of this new technology and for protecting the space environment.
The firm added that its mission is to demonstrate that reflecting sunlight from space can be a significant part of a clean energy future, while also providing critical, life-saving illumination during night hours.
The satellite, named after a character from "The Lord of the Rings," is equipped with an 18-meter-wide reflective mirror. It is designed to briefly illuminate a ground area approximately 5 to 6 kilometers in diameter. The company's website features a simulation tool allowing the public to visualize the satellite's effect, showing how it could make night appear as bright as day in targeted zones.
Reflect Orbital suggests on its website that the satellite could provide light for solar panels at night, potentially reducing the need for power companies to burn more fossil fuels and thus helping to mitigate climate change.
In an April report, the company described the reflected light as soft and diffuse, similar to natural daylight. It clarified that the technology is not a form of concentrated solar power, does not use lasers, and does not require artificial light sources. Importantly, the system is designed to be compatible with existing solar infrastructure, allowing for more efficient use of solar panels, inverters, grid capacity, and land.
However, the company's goals have faced criticism from the scientific community. During the FCC's regulatory review, the commission received nearly 2,000 public comments. Organizations including the American Astronomical Society, the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK, and the International Dark-Sky Association have warned of potential negative impacts on aviation safety, ecosystems, and astronomical research.
The International Dark-Sky Association, an organization focused on combating light pollution and promoting responsible outdoor lighting, stated last week that it is exploring various legal avenues to try to stop the satellite's launch and operation.
The association argued that the FCC concluded it lacked the authority to assess the environmental impacts of the orbital solar reflector, limiting its review to radiofrequency spectrum issues. This, they say, leaves critical concerns largely unaddressed, including effects on wildlife, astronomy, public safety, and the natural nighttime environment, highlighting a significant gap in the regulatory framework for emerging space technologies.
The group warned that the satellite could disrupt nocturnal ecosystems and contribute to biodiversity loss. It also raised concerns about human health, suggesting the light could interfere with sleep, metabolism, hormone cycles, and potentially cause eye damage.
In a December 2025 statement opposing the satellite, the International Dark-Sky Association cautioned that a malfunction or failure to retract the mirror could cause the moving beam from the space reflector to produce sudden flashes, intense glare, or sweeping light. Such bright light could impair night vision, posing safety risks to aircraft pilots, ground-based drivers, and observers using binoculars or telescopes.
The association further contended that the reflected light could interfere with ground-based astronomical observations and potentially damage sensitive sensors at observatories. Additionally, debris from the satellite, created by minor impacts in space, could worsen the already problematic issue of space debris in the congested low Earth orbit region.
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