On July 9, the Federal Communications Commission approved Reflect Orbital’s application to launch Earendil-1, an experimental satellite featuring a 59-by-59-foot reflective mirror. The startup aims to test beaming sunlight to specific ground locations at night, a decision that has triggered intense opposition from astronomers citing risks to research, safety, and the environment.
FCC Regulatory Jurisdiction and the Earendil-1 Approval
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted the Hawthorne, California-based company permission to operate its proof-of-concept satellite, Eärendil-1, in low-Earth orbit. According to the agency’s decision, the approval focuses strictly on radio-frequency spectrum usage and debris-mitigation plans, which the commission determined meet current safety thresholds.
The FCC explicitly declined to regulate the light-reflecting capabilities of the satellite, stating that such concerns fall outside its statutory authority. In its ruling, the commission cited the 1934 Communications Act, noting that its mandate is to encourage the provision of new technologies and services to the public
and that the project serves the public interest.
Reflect Orbital’s Sunlight-on-Demand Technology
Reflect Orbital, which brands itself as the sunlight company,
envisions a future where massive orbital constellations provide light and energy on demand. The company has positioned the technology as a way to extend the utility of solar infrastructure, allowing power companies to capture solar energy before sunrise and after sunset.
For more on this story, see FCC Authorizes Reflect Orbital to Test Space Mirror for Earth Illumination.
The Eärendil-1 satellite utilizes an 18-by-18-meter reflective Mylar surface. Operating at an altitude of roughly 625 kilometers, the mirror is designed to cast a beam of light approximately 3 to 5 kilometers wide on the ground. The company asserts that this light will be contained within targeted exclusion zones. Reflect Orbital maintains that the reflected light is nearly identical to natural daylight conditions
.
Astronomical Opposition and Public Safety Concerns
The decision to approve the license has faced sharp backlash from scientific organizations, including the American Astronomical Society (AAS), the Royal Astronomical Society, and DarkSky International. These groups submitted nearly 2,000 comments during the FCC’s review process, warning of severe impacts on nighttime ecosystems, human circadian rhythms, and astronomical research.
“While we fully support American technical innovation in space, this innovation cannot come at the cost of imperiling scientific research, which has been at the forefront of American innovation and global leadership for decades.”
American Astronomical Society, statement
Critics also flagged significant safety risks. DarkSky International warned that if the mirror malfunctions or fails to stow, it could create sudden flashes, glare, or sweeping illumination patterns
that might disrupt aircraft pilots and drivers. Furthermore, the AAS highlighted that the satellite’s reflected light—which would appear as bright as Venus to the naked eye—could cause potential permanent eye damage to anyone looking through a mid-sized telescope,
a risk acknowledged in Reflect Orbital’s own FCC filings.
Regulatory Gaps in the Commercial Space Sector
The controversy surrounding Eärendil-1 highlights a broader regulatory mismatch as commercial ventures in low-Earth orbit become increasingly complex. Experts note that the current U.S. framework—split between the FAA, the FCC, and NOAA—was designed for a different era of spaceflight.
This follows our earlier report, Astronomers Horrified by Enormous Mirror Satellite That Reflects Sunlight Back Down to Earth at Night.
The FCC recently acknowledged the shifting nature of these activities, publishing a document titled Spectrum Abundance for Weird Space Stuff.
Despite the agency’s internal recognition of these developments, the path forward for comprehensive oversight remains stalled. While scientific organizations have raised the prospect of legal challenges, the current regulatory status allows Reflect Orbital to proceed with its demonstration. The company plans to launch the satellite, marking the first step toward a projected constellation of 50,000 mirrors by 2035.
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