Astronomers express outrage after regulators approve ‘space mirror’ permit

The Federal Communications Commission approved a permit for a space mirror. Reflect Orbital's Eärendil-1 satellite carries a reflector measuring eighteen by eighteen meters, designed to bounce sunlight onto Earth after dark—intended to extend solar power generation into evening hours and support nighttime emergency response and construction work. The decision has alarmed astronomers, however. Per Physics World, the American Astronomical Society warns that this satellite, plus the thousands more the company plans to deploy, threatens optical and radio astronomy, could damage research equipment, and might flash-blind pilots and drivers. Marcel Agüeros, president of the Astronomical Society, tells Physics World that Reflect Orbital hasn't been transparent about critical details like the satellite's orbital path. Agüeros argues there should be an extremely high bar for deliberately brightening Earth's night sky—because we're already losing something irreplaceable: our ability to experience genuine darkness, which connects us to our place in the cosmos in a way few other experiences can match.

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