Washington, October 16: A US-based space technology startup, Reflect Orbital, is planning to provide sunlight on demand at night by deploying a network of large reflective satellites in orbit, with launch support from India’s Skyroot Aerospace.
The California-based company aims to use space-based mirrors to redirect sunlight towards specific locations on Earth after dark. The technology is intended for applications such as illuminating disaster-hit areas during search-and-rescue operations, extending working hours in remote industrial zones and increasing the operating time of solar farms.
Reflect Orbital has signed a contract with Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace for two satellite launches using its Vikram rocket family.
The company said the agreement would provide additional launch capacity and help secure its deployment schedule alongside planned launches from the United States.
Skyroot Aerospace CEO Pawan Chandana welcomed the partnership, describing the project as an innovative application of space technology that could create new possibilities on Earth.
Reflect Orbital plans to provide adjustable illumination across a stretch of approximately five kilometres, with the ability to switch the light on or off as required. The company believes the service could also support certain defence operations, critical infrastructure and special events in public spaces.
The first launch under the agreement is planned to use Skyroot’s Vikram-1 rocket, while the second will use the company’s Vikram-1U launch vehicle, which is under development and is expected to feature additional first-stage boosters and improved performance.
In July, Reflect Orbital received approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to construct, launch and operate a demonstration satellite.
Company co-founder and CEO Ben Nowack said Reflect Orbital would continue working with astronomers, local communities and regulators as it develops the technology and seeks to expand its operations.
However, the proposal has sparked concerns among environmental organisations and astronomy groups. Critics argue that artificial illumination at night could disrupt wildlife, interfere with astronomical observations and affect the natural sleep-wake cycles of humans.
Some environmental groups have urged the FCC to reconsider the permissions granted for the demonstration satellite.
The concept of reflecting sunlight from space is not entirely new. In 1993, Russian scientists and engineers conducted the Znamya experiment, deploying a large mirror in orbit to direct a moving beam of sunlight towards Earth. Although the experiment was successful, the programme was eventually abandoned because of a lack of funding.
Reflect Orbital’s project seeks to develop the concept into a commercial service, although its wider deployment will depend on technical performance, regulatory approvals and the resolution of environmental concerns.
