this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2025
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https://archive.ph/3WZrp

California-based startup Reflect Orbital aims to build a swarm of 4,000 giant mirrors in low Earth orbit to "sell sunlight" to customers at night. Experts warn that the mirrors could mess with telescopes, blind stargazers and impact the environment.

Reflect Orbital, which was founded in 2021, has recently taken the first step in a scheme to sell sunlight at night by bouncing solar rays off giant "reflectors" that can redirect the vital resource almost anywhere on our planet. By doing this, the company aims to extend daylight hours in specific locations, thus allowing paying customers to generate solar power, grow crops and replace urban lighting.

But experts say it is a wildly impractical plan that should never get off the ground. What's more, the resulting light pollution could devastate ground-based astronomy, distract aircraft pilots and even blind stargazers.

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[–] notgivingmynametoamachine@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I won’t lie, the idea of sunlight on demand sounds interesting… but then capitalism ruins it before the environmentalists even had a chance. (not trying to downplay environmental science here, just being cheeky)

[–] tfm@europe.pub 2 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Why would you need sunlight on demand?

[–] Kornblumenratte@feddit.org 3 points 5 months ago

For enlightenment?

Not “needed”, just “cool” in a “ooh, the future!” Sense… at least until you get into all the environmental and sociological issues.

[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Tried living in Svalbard? Right now it's 24/7 darkness

[–] ours@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

Maybe try not to live in the Arctic Circle?

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[–] fissionmailed@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

Maggie Simpson will sort them out.

[–] richardmtanguay@lemmings.world 4 points 5 months ago

So, they want to play God, eh!!?? :-(

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 3 points 5 months ago

Buy who cares? Money!

This entire thing is again stupid front to back, and for loads of money, of course

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 3 points 5 months ago

A little Critical Thinking will tell you that this is either technically impossible, unbelievably expensive, or both. Probably both.

However, I encourage Sociopathic Oligarchs to dump as much of their money into it as possible.

[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 months ago

Yeah, but think of the potential shareholder value!

...allowing paying customers to generate solar power, grow crops and replace urban lighting.

What a great idea! There aren't any other ways to generate or store solar power, grow crops beyond daytime hours, or create good urban lighting...

[–] KulunkelBoom@lemmus.org 3 points 5 months ago

Why put mirrors in space when you can SELL SHARES in building mirrors in space to redirect sunlight.

Worth trillions, don't you think? Not the end product - just the design and endless alpha model.

Shit... you think the F-35 was a complete boondoggle(*1), you ain't seen shit. Space is BIG. Price tags $,,$,,$,,$,,$


(*1) and it remains so to this very day

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

007 did it.

I'm trying to remember the name of the film.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Technically there were two.

  1. The Man With the Golden Gun (has sun laser; never seen used)

  2. Die Another Day (sun laser is used)

They both happen to be my all time favorite Bond movies because they are absurdly over the top.

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[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 months ago

Futurama did it first.

[–] YaDownWitCPP@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

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