{"id":193116,"date":"2026-07-13T16:19:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T21:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=193116"},"modified":"2026-07-13T16:19:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T21:49:45","slug":"sunlight-on-demand-u-s-approves-test-of-giant-space-mirror-to-redirect-sunlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=193116","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Sunlight on demand\u2019: U.S. approves test of giant space mirror to redirect sunlight"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\u2018Sunlight on demand\u2019: U.S. approves test of giant space mirror to redirect sunlight<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n
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The U.S. has approved plans for an experimental satellite carrying a massive mirror, designed to test if \u201csunlight on demand\u201d is possible by reflecting sunlight onto targeted areas on Earth.<\/p>\n

The Federal Communications Commission issued a license Thursday <\/a>allowing California-based startup Reflect Orbital<\/a> to launch and operate its Earendil-1 satellite.<\/p>\n

The experimental satellite is designed to test whether sunlight can be reflected from space onto small, targeted areas of Earth after dark.<\/p>\n

Related video above | NASA astronaut captures rare red aurora from space<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The spacecraft carries a large, lightweight mirror made of reflective film that unfolds once in orbit and can be precisely aimed at a specific location. By adjusting the mirror\u2019s angle, the satellite redirects natural sunlight to briefly illuminate an area.<\/p>\n

The FCC approved the company to launch and operate a single demonstration satellite, clearing it to use the radio frequencies needed to test its technology. The authorization is limited to the satellite\u2019s communications systems and does not approve Reflect Orbital\u2019s broader vision of deploying a fleet of \u201cspace mirrors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe find that grant of Reflect Orbital\u2019s application for a single demonstration satellite serves the public interest by permitting Reflect Orbital to test emergent technology that advances American leadership in space, and that petitioners and commenters\u2019 concerns do not warrant either denial or additional conditions on this authorization,\u201d the FCC approval reads in part<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Officials with Reflect Orbital say the technology could have practical applications, including supporting search-and-rescue missions, providing additional light for solar farms at dawn or dusk and extending daylight for certain construction operations.<\/p>\n

But the project has drawn sharp criticism from astronomers and environmental scientists, who warn that intentionally reflecting sunlight onto Earth at night could worsen light pollution. Researchers also say artificial nighttime light may disrupt wildlife that depends on natural darkness and affect human sleep cycles and other biological rhythms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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\u2018Sunlight on demand\u2019: U.S. approves test of giant space mirror to redirect sunlight The U.S. has approved plans for an experimental satellite carrying a massive mirror, designed to test if \u201csunlight on demand\u201d is possible by reflecting sunlight onto targeted areas on Earth. The Federal Communications Commission issued a license Thursday allowing California-based startup Reflect…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":193117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-193116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/a1a8527f-e360-49de-9d6e-0c3978f21679.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":194181,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=194181","url_meta":{"origin":193116,"position":0},"title":"Japan is building a system to beam wireless electricity from space directly to Earth: Inside the OHISAMA mission that could change how we power our homes |","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP), a technology Japan is currently pioneering to ensure a sustainable future, has the ability to provide a world where solar energy never fades, even when the sun sets or clouds gather. 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