IN PICTURE ] A US-based space startup is working on a plan to bring sunlight to parts of the world after sunset by launching giant mirrors into space and directing reflected light towards paying customers.
California-based Reflect Orbital wants to turn sunlight into an on-demand service that could help solar farms generate electricity for longer, illuminate areas affected by disasters and support rescue missions. The company has partnered with India’s Skyroot Aerospace for two rocket launches aimed at testing the technology.
The proposal has attracted attention from scientists and environmentalists, with concerns emerging over how artificial sunlight could affect the natural night sky and surrounding environments.
The company plans to use large mirrors placed in low Earth orbit to capture sunlight and redirect it towards selected locations on the ground. Customers would be able to choose where they want the light through an application.
How the space mirrors will work
Reflect Orbital intends to deploy mirrors measuring 18 by 18 metres in space. These structures will be positioned so they can reflect sunlight towards specific areas on Earth even when those locations are experiencing nighttime.
The demonstration mirrors are expected to illuminate an area approximately five kilometres across. The company plans to steer the mirrors as they move in orbit to keep directing light towards locations whose customers have paid for the service.
Its first demonstration mission, involving a satellite called Earendil-1, is targeted for the second quarter of 2027. The partnership with Skyroot Aerospace will support the planned rocket launches as the company works towards testing its technology.
Reflect Orbital hopes to expand the project significantly after the initial tests. It has set a target of deploying 50,000 satellites by 2035, with the company saying the reflected light would initially be comparable to moonlight.
Scientists raise concerns over artificial sunlight
Despite the potential uses, the proposal has raised questions about its effects on the environment and astronomical research. Astronomers and environmentalists are concerned that reflecting sunlight onto the Earth at night could interfere with the natural darkness needed by people, wildlife and scientific observations.
A peer-reviewed study published in August 2025 examined how reflected sunlight could behave as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere. The research found that molecules and aerosols in the atmosphere could scatter part of the light beam beyond the area targeted by the mirrors.
The light would not necessarily remain within the five-kilometre area selected by a customer. Instead, some of it could spread across surrounding locations, creating a much wider glow in the night sky.
The study also explained that light reaching the ground could be reflected upwards before being scattered again by the atmosphere. This could increase the spread of artificial light beyond the intended location.
One concern raised by the research is that even when the mirrors are positioned 14 kilometres away, the resulting glow on the Earth’s surface could be brighter than a full moon.
These findings raise questions about how the technology would affect areas beyond those paying for the service. While Reflect Orbital sees an opportunity to provide additional lighting and support energy production, scientists are examining the possible effects of introducing artificial sunlight into the night environment.