In July 2026, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Reflect Orbital to test a single satellite called Earendil-1, a mirror in low Earth orbit that steers sunlight down to a target on the ground. The company says the reflected beam would cover a patch about 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide and would need to be re-aimed roughly every four minutes as the satellite moves. Reflect Orbital frames the technology as a tool for agriculture, emergency response and other industries that could use extra light or solar generation at a chosen time and place.
The approval stands out because of what it represents, not just what it does. The FCC authorized the radio-spectrum use for the test, but explicitly said that concerns about the physical risks of the reflector — to astronomy, aviation and the environment — fall outside its remit. Critics warn that the mirror's flashes during re-pointing could dazzle pilots and drivers, while the constant light could disturb the circadian rhythms of plants, animals and people. Sensitive detectors on research telescopes, and the star-tracking cameras on other satellites, could also be overwhelmed.
This is not a one-off experiment. Reflect Orbital has stated a goal of operating more than 50,000 such satellites by 2035, and the FCC recently published a document titled "Spectrum Abundance for Weird Space Stuff" acknowledging a wave of unconventional orbital proposals — from in-space manufacturing to private lunar robots and orbital AI data centers. The case highlights a gap in how novel space activities are governed: a single agency can license the radio link while the broader physical and environmental effects slip through the cracks.
Knowledge takeaway: in July 2026 the FCC approved Reflect Orbital's Earendil-1, a sunlight-reflecting satellite designed to deliver a ~5 km-wide beam of extra daylight that must be re-aimed about every four minutes; the company aims to deploy 50,000+ such mirrors by 2035 for agriculture, emergency response and solar power; astronomers and safety experts warn the reflected light could disrupt circadian rhythms, dazzle pilots and drivers, and overload telescope and satellite sensors; the FCC authorized only the radio spectrum, explicitly leaving physical and environmental risks outside its review — a governance gap the agency itself flagged in a "Weird Space Stuff" filing.