A California startup just cleared a big hurdle in its plan to beam sunlight down to Earth after dark. The FCC has approved Reflect Orbital’s demonstration satellite, called Eärendil-1, which will test whether sunlight can be bounced from space onto specific spots on the ground. The satellite will orbit about 388 miles up and unfold a giant aluminized Mylar mirror measuring roughly 59 feet on each side, aiming a moving beam of light onto areas about 3 miles wide.
The company wants to sell “sunlight on demand” to solar farms so they can keep making power after sunset, and it has floated other uses like emergency response and construction. Eventually it hopes to launch tens of thousands of mirrors. Astronomers are alarmed, warning the satellites could become the brightest objects ever put in orbit, ruining telescope images and brightening the night sky. Critics also worry about wildlife, sleep, and aviation.
Source: Techspot
