Value chain · CLM-1230
In plain terms
US regulators approved a test satellite with an 18-metre mirror to reflect sunlight to the ground at night, despite objections from astronomers.
The claim as recorded
Astronomy reported on 2026-07-22 that the FCC had approved, on July 9, Reflect Orbital's application to launch and operate Earendil-1, a demonstration satellite with an 18 x 18 m mirror to beam sunlight to the ground at night, for up to two years; the company's longer-term ambition of up to 50,000 mirrors has not been filed.
Evidence behind this: T5, trade press reporting a regulator's decision; the FCC grant itself is not held.
Scope and limits
Reflected sunlight: an adjacent concept, not power beaming. Registered by coord ruling (ON-282) but kept off the SBSP roadmap chart series. The FCC order is not held. No launch date is given.
What it assumes
No assumptions are recorded against this claim.
Where it comes from
text: FCC approval "On July 9" of Earendil-1 with a "59x59 foot (18x18 meter) mirror"; test "for up to two years"; ambition "up to 50,000 orbiting mirrors"; "Reflect Orbital has not filed for the larger 50,000 mirror constellation yet"; the approval came "over the objections of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and dozens of other scientific and dark-sky organizations, which petitioned the agency to deny the license".
Related records
- Answers question
- QST-027 not published in this release
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-1230
CLM-1230, Energy Aperture, as of 2026-07-22.