Plan to reflect sunlight to power solar panels at night upsets astronomers

California startup Reflect Orbital plans to launch thousands of satellites with mirrors to redirect sunlight to solar farms at night.

Astronomers warn the bright reflected light could be “ruinous” to ground-based telescopes that rely on dark skies for research.

A startup that aims to keep solar farms running at night by reflecting sunlight from space has sparked controversy among astronomers whose work relies on dark skies.

California-based Reflect Orbital recently requested a license from the Federal Communications Commission to launch a demonstration satellite in 2026, as its first step to creating a constellation that will redirect sunlight to precise locations on demand. The startup says it plans to launch dozens more over the next two years, with a goal of having about 4,000 satell