A controversial space startup’s plan to sell artificial sunlight for $5,000 an hour is drawing outrage after an unannounced demonstration in California left residents and astronomers questioning the consequences of lighting up the night sky. Moreover, experts argue the drawbacks could be dire, especially given the technology’s disruptive potential.
Reflect Orbital, an aerospace company developing giant mirror-equipped satellites, recently used powerful spotlights to illuminate a mountainside near Lone Pine, California, simulating how its proposed technology would work. The October 10 demonstration caught local residents by surprise, with some officials reportedly unaware of the operation.
The company eventually hopes to deploy as many as 50,000 satellites capable of reflecting sunlight onto selected locations after dark. It argues the technology could help solar farms generate electricity at night, assist search-and-rescue operations, and provide lighting for construction crews.
Astronomers Hate The Notion
However, astronomers warn that the artificial beams could cause widespread light pollution, disrupt astronomical observations, and potentially damage the eyesight of amateur astronomers looking through powerful telescopes. Princeton University astrophysicist Gaspar Bakos did not mince words when discussing the proposal with Sky & Telescope.
“There’s no nice way of doing this,” he said, arguing that the project disregards decades of efforts to reduce light pollution. Research published by Bakos and his colleagues also suggested that the reflected light could affect areas up to 30 kilometres beyond its intended target of five kilometers. “This is not a ‘concern’; this is like a bullet in your head,” Bakos warned. “It’s the end of ground-based astronomy.”
Environmental advocates have raised additional concerns about the consequences for wildlife, particularly nocturnal species that depend on natural darkness. Earthjustice senior attorney Jan Hasselman called the project “an idiotic project,” warning about its potentially significant environmental impacts.
Some People Online Also Don’t Want It
The proposal has also sparked fierce reactions online, with many social media users questioning why anyone would want to turn sunlight into a paid service. “Bro really looked at the Sun and thought it needed a subscription plan. We cannot have anything nice anymore,” one commenter wrote in a post that attracted thousands of likes.
Another joked that the company was attempting to become Mr. Burns from The Simpsons, while someone else questioned the need for orbital mirrors when conventional spotlights could accomplish some of the proposed tasks. “Mr. Burns finally did it. Literally stealing the sun, but with worse PR,” wrote another commenter. Others also pointed out how the tech could be weaponized: “You’re going to have to pay for night.”
Reflect Orbital has already received approval from the Federal Communications Commission in July to deploy a demonstration satellite called Earendil-1. The company has also announced plans to purchase two launches from Indian aerospace company Skyroot Aerospace. Meanwhile, astronomers and environmental groups continue pushing regulators to reconsider the project, arguing that the night sky should not become another commercial resource.
