Imagine looking at the sky at night and finding out that part of the light you see doesn’t come from the moon… but from giant mirrors floating in space. It sounds incredible, right? Well, now a small company in California wants to make something similar.
Solar energy works very well, but only while the sun is shining. Then, what would happen if we could reflect the solar light toward the Earth even when it’s night time? That is exactly what the company wants to do.
However, many astronomers and biodiversity experts are worried about this futuristic idea. So, let’s have a look at this company’s innovative idea, shall we?
Bringing extra light to the night
The startup Reflect Orbital, with its headquarters in California, has a big and ambitious plan: sending 4,000 giant mirrors to space before 2030. These mirrors would be in an orbit that follows the line between day and night, and its function would be to reflect the sunlight toward specific areas of Earth.
The mirrors could be up to 55 meters wide, bigger than most small buildings. The light they reflected would be seen as a gentle glow, similar to moonlight. It wouldn’t be as bright as daytime, but it would brighten the night in the places where the mirrors shine.
The company has already requested permission to launch its first test satellite, called EARENDIL-1, and it is expected to put it into orbit in April 2026. During this test, people in certain places could see the reflection as a “bright, moving star” in the sky.
Astronomers are worried
Even though the idea sounds futuristic, astronomers don’t agree with it. Here’s why they are concerned:
- Space is already crowded: In the last few years, the amount of satellites in space has increased a lot. Let’s see a comparison: In 2019, there were about 2,000 satellites; in 2025 there are already 15,000; and by 2040 there could be 560,000! So, adding 4,000 mirrors on top of this could increase the risk of collisions. When satellites crash, they create space debris, which can damage other satellites or spacecraft.
- More light pollution: Astronomers need night to be dark to observe the stars, planets, and other phenomena of the universe. So, artificial light that reflects these mirrors could make these observations difficult.
- Animals and people affected: The light reflected by the mirrors could be 4 times brighter than the full moon, which can affect: Migrating birds, nocturnal animals, wildlife across large distances (over 60 miles away), and human sleep cycles and natural rhythms.
The company says the beam will be small and focused, and that mirrors will turn away once they pass the target area. But astronomers say the mirrors will still be visible far away as bright, fast-moving points of light.
How this project could change our nights
This idea could change the way in which we experience night as we know it. The startup states it controls the direction of the reflection, but experts insist that even controlled reflections can affect the natural darkness we depend on. This raises important questions about how much artificial light should be allowed in the sky.
To sum up
As this project moves forward, it invites all of us to think about what we want the night to look like in the future. Now I will turn the question over to you: do you think it is worth changing the natural night for a bit more light? I mean, it is a fascinating idea—but one that makes us think carefully about the future all of us want, on Earth and beyond.