Anonymous25 days ago
California startup Reflect Orbital plans to launch thousands of giant mirrors into low Earth orbit to beam reflected sunlight to Earth after dark, with its first demonstration satellite Earendil-1 slated for April 2026. The $26.5 million venture, backed by Lux Capital and Sequoia, has drawn fierce opposition from over 1,400 astronomers, wildlife advocates, and dark-sky organizations who warn the constellation could devastate ground-based astronomy, disrupt ecosystems, and fundamentally alter the shared heritage of the night sky — all within a regulatory framework critics say is utterly unprepared for intentional orbital illumination.