By Alec Fernandes
A California startup has received FCC approval for a mirrored satellite that will reflect the sun's rays onto Earth's dark side, providing light on demand across an area roughly three miles wide. The company, Reflect Orbital, paints a picture of a futuristic utopia, promising enhanced safety for search and rescue operations, extended hours for agricultural and solar panel productivity, and a world where the shadows of night are banished at the flip of a switch.
However, the project has sparked a firestorm of controversy, drawing the scrutiny of both regulators and the scientific community. These critics warn that the intense, concentrated beams could pose serious hazards to drivers, potentially causing flash-blindness, and wreak havoc on sensitive astronomical observations. The reaction online has been equally sharp, with one Reddit user sarcastically quipping, "Yay!!! More wildfires!!!"
For now, the FCC's decision covers only a single demonstration satellite, not the company's much larger long-term vision of 50,000 similar devices. Nevertheless, the debate illuminates a bigger question: if we can engineer artificial daylight, should we? Let us know what you think on our Facebook page!