484
FCC approves giant space mirror as astronomers warn of risks to the night sky
(www.thebrighterside.news)
this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2026
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Flare guns already do this for a lot cheaper. They even come in a choice of colours.
Sure it just requires that you build a giant precision mirror array, launch it into orbit, and then constantly monitor and position it from the ground, but god damn if you won't need a bulky, polluting flashlight ever again.
What an absolute fucking joke of a proposal. Yeah, let's blanket the earth in mirrors so that we can light up some random construction site temporarily.
heaven forbid you need to illuminate two completely different areas of earth simultaneously. is this is the least cost efficient solar powered device ever?
Oh, no, don't worry about that, this is just a test to see if it works... They plan to put 50,000 of these things in orbit.
Aren't they worried that the bazillion of SpaceX satellites will cast shadows on their light beams?
I don't think they are that worried, since their plan is basically just to use pseudo-science magic words to remove money from investors.
Oh, right. That's fine then.
Well, it's true that if you need to illuminate a site for two and a half minutes but can't build anything on the ground, it's a ~~great~~ solution. Is it the best solution? Maybe not. Is it a solution? You bet it is.
We have portable energy sources. They're pretty efficient. Especially comparable to an orbital launch.
Illuminate construction sites? With a flare gun? They have lamps, you know. And yeah, also cheaper
If god wanted me to use lamps, god would've invented a 'lamp gun'. Since He didn't, we're just gonna have to make do with the tools god did give us, now pass me the lite beer and cover your ears - it's illuminating time.