Controversial Space Mirror Project Aims to Light Up the Night Sky

A company called Reflect Orbital is developing a controversial project that aims to turn night into day by using a constellation of orbital mirrors to reflect sunlight. Astronomers have voiced concerns that such a project could interfere with astronomical observations and compromise the ability to view the night sky.

John Logsdon, professor emeritus at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, noted that astronomers worry about the impact of a constellation of orbital mirrors on stargazing. However, Reflect Orbital maintains that the satellites are designed with precision to control the direction of the reflected sunlight.

"From the beginning, we've been designing our satellites to be very precise," said an unnamed company representative to TIME. "We want to precisely control where our sunlight is going, and we only want to light up areas that want that sunlight."

The project is planned in phases. The initial satellite, named Eärendil-1, will be modest in its illumination. It is designed to reflect only as much light as a full moon over a 6,000-acre area for a duration of five minutes. The satellite will orbit at an altitude of 400 miles, traveling at 17,500 miles per hour.

If the first launch proves successful, the scale of the project is expected to increase rapidly. By next year, Reflect Orbital plans to have 36 satellites in orbit, capable of reflecting down an amount of light equivalent to nighttime street lighting. These satellites will work together to provide 2.5 hours of illumination.

The company's long-term vision includes a flock of 5,000 satellites by 2030. These would produce the equivalent of daylight for short periods, indoor lighting for up to two hours, and all-night street lighting for customers who request it. By 2035, a fleet of 50,000 satellites is projected to provide unspecified durations of daylight illumination and round-the-clock indoor-level lighting.