Reflect Orbital plans to launch thousands of reflective mirrors to produce 'sunlight on demand', but researchers are sceptical about whether the reflected light will be enough to generate electricity
to Earth with satellites next year, so that dark places can be temporarily lit for visibility or energy production. But astronomers are sceptical about the plan’s efficacy and possible scientific consequences.
, which aims to provide “sunlight on demand”, intends to launch its first satellite as soon as early 2026, beaming sunlight to 10 locations as part of an initial “World Tour”. The company then plans to launch thousands of satellites, equipped with mirrors spanning tens of metres, so that light can be reflected to Earth for “remote operations, defense, civil infrastructure, and energy generation.”By 2030, Reflect Orbital says it will have sufficient satellite coverage to beam 200 watts per square metre to solar farms on Earth, equivalent to levels of sunlight at dusk and dawn, so places with less natural sunlight can still generate reliable energy. But according to specifications of the company’s first satellite in filings with the US Federal Communications Commission , the useful light reflected to Earth will be much less than that.at Dark Sky Consulting, a company based in Tucson, Arizona, and astronomers from the American Astronomical Society, used the FCC filing to calculate how much power the satellite would generate from solar panels on Earth. “For a single reflector, the amount of light that’s delivered at ground level is vastly insufficient to power solar farms,” he says.Bring the galaxy to your inbox every month, with the latest space news, launches and astronomical occurrences from New Scientist’s Leah Crane.The level of light would be equivalent to four times the full moon, which over a large surface area wouldn’t generate much electricity, says Barentine. To produce more light than this would require satellites with thousands of reflectors in total, which would be extremely expensive to launch and complex to fly in formation. However, the satellites could pose problems for astronomers by causing momentary flashes of sunlight when their mirrors change position, says Barentine. Some scattering and dissipation of light in the atmosphere, sending it towards unintended locations, is unavoidable, especially if the satellite’s reflectors are damaged by micrometeorites and become imperfect reflectors, he says. Reflect Orbital has contacted scientists to discuss potential mitigations for these issues, says Barentine. Reflect Orbital did not respond to an interview request from
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Euphoria Season 3: HBO's Most Controversial Show Returns in 2026Liz Hersey is an Editor and Critic for ScreenRant's TV team, editing, reviewing, writing, and creating content about the iconic shows you love to watch. She began her editing career at ScreenRant in 2019, shortly after joining the site as a Writer that same year.
Read more »
Netflix’s Biggest Romance Anime of 2026 Shares a New Visual Ahead of Its Fall PremiereNetflix’s biggest romance anime is returning with a new season this fall, and it has just shared an exciting new visual.
Read more »
Every Marvel & DC TV Show Releasing in 2026, Ranked by Our Anticipation2026 has a lot of great TV shows coming out for both the DCU and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and here are the best.
Read more »
New report: '5 smart ways to grow your retirement savings in 2026'Utah-based B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions has released a new report, '5 smart ways to grow your retirement savings in 2026.' The report is available free and is designed specifically for people who are recently retired, or nearing retirement.
Read more »
The Cars We Can't Wait to Drive (or at Least See) in 2026The Car and Driver staff shares the debuts and refreshes we are most looking forward to in the coming year.
Read more »
Inside W Magazine's 2026 Best Performances Party 2026 With Jacob Elordi, Lana Del Rey, & MoreEmma Stone, Sydney Sweeney, Hailey Bieber and more celebrated W Magazine's latest issue at the Chateau Marmont.
Read more »