Space Mirrors Promise Nighttime Light but Threaten Eyes and Telescopes
7 Articles
7 Articles
Satellites that reflect sunlight would continue to operate solar panels, but could interfere with wildlife and astronomical observations.
Darkness is losing its war with the light
Astronomy, our window into the rest of the universe, happens in the dark. Planets, stars and galaxies – all the mysteries of the cosmos – only reveal themselves at night. But the night sky may be getting much brighter, thanks to an American company with a plan to conquer darkness itself by sending 50,000 giant mirrors into space. What you are reading first appeared as a cover story for The Atlas, our new global publication with The Continent. S…
Space Mirrors Promise Nighttime Light but Threaten Eyes and Telescopes
A California startup has secured federal approval to test a satellite that reflects sunlight to dark spots on Earth. The move has drawn sharp warnings from astronomers and safety experts. Reflect Orbital’s Earendil-1 prototype carries an 18-meter film mirror set to launch later this year. If successful, the firm plans thousands more to form a constellation capable of illuminating patches up to five kilometers wide. The Federal Communications Com…
The American company Reflect Orbital wants to send satellites in orbit capable of reflecting the light from the Sun to the Earth after dark. But astronomers warn about the risks for scientific observations, wildlife and health, when no regulations are in place.
An American start-up got the green light from Washington to throw a first mirror into space. Objective: to demonstrate that the sunlight, reflected at night by thousands of reflectors in orbit, could enlighten the cities, boost the production of solar energy or agricultural yieldsThe problem of the night is that it is... night. Russian scientists had understood well, who had hoped to install mirrors in orbit to replace urban lighting, especially…
Reflect Orbital plans to generate solar energy at night by placing giant mirrors in orbit. The massive project, involving 50,000 satellites and approved by the FCC, has sparked outrage among scientists and environmentalists. Lawyers have initiated legal proceedings to overturn the decision.
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