The FCC approved a satellite that would reflect sunlight back to Earth. Astronomers are not happy

The FCC recently approved a proposal from an aerospace company to send a prototype satellite into space that would reflect sunlight back to Earth during the night.

California-based company Reflect Orbital claims the Eärendil-1 satellite would store a 60-foot-wide mirror that would unfurl once it reaches low Earth orbit. Reflect Orbital says it will be able to light up about a 3 mile area to the brightness of a full moon.

The company’s goal is to provide solar companies with enough sunlight to keep producing energy during the night time.

It would take a lot more than just one satellite to provide a meaningful amount of sunlight for a solar farm. Reflect Orbital’s goal is to send 50,000 into orbit by 2035.

But the project has received pushback from astronomers nationally, and here in Arizona, saying it would interfere with observations of the night sky.

University of Arizona astronomer Richard Green says professional observatories would likely be able to track satellite whereabouts to avoid interfering with direct observations. But Green says with as many satellites as Reflect Orbital is planning, “there's part of the night that's just unusable anymore.”

He says there are also safety concerns, like if one of these satellites flew over the line of sight of someone’s telescope.

“If you concentrate that light yet further by a small telescope or even binoculars, you can do permanent damage to people's eyes,” Green said.

Researchers like Green told the FCC that there could be ecological concerns as shining sunlight back down on Earth at night could interfere with human and animal sleep patterns.

Reflect Orbital said in a statement to KJZZ that it spoke with astronomers to address their concerns.

“Their feedback has already meaningfully informed the design of our spacecraft and operational plans. We’re committed to ongoing dialogue with these and any other groups with a legitimate interest in how this technology develops," the company said.

Green says he believes there are gaps in how satellites are regulated by the federal government.

“Astronomy is the canary in the coal mine for this because we're really sensitive to access to the sky,” Green said. “But it's a broader issue and we really ought to be mindful of having a long-term presence in space that we can sustain without damaging the planet we live on.”

Largely speaking, the FAA regulates launches, flight paths and the end of life of satellites. The FCC regulates radio communications to and from satellites.

So when astronomers raised their concerns to the FCC, it said its purview was limited.

“The FCC came back and said, we are not actually in charge of space operations. The only thing that we're allowed to consider in the public interest is whether the radio waves are going to interfere with other people's radio rights.” Green said.

There have been moves from Congress to change the regulatory process, but they have yet to materialize.