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Policy · 1h ago

FCC Approves Orbital Mirrors to Reflect Sunlight to Earth at Night

By Meridian48 News Desk · Summarised from Tom's Hardware ·

A startup received FCC approval to launch experimental satellites that will reflect sunlight to Earth's surface for construction and search-and-rescue lighting. Critics warn of potential harm to astronomy and the environment, but the FCC deemed those concerns outside its jurisdiction. The first test satellites are expected to launch this year.

Meridian48 take
The approval sidesteps broader environmental and astronomical impacts, raising questions about regulatory gaps in space-based geoengineering.
Read the full reporting
FCC approves orbital space mirrors, first test satellites will launch this year — large spacecraft reflects sunlight to Earth’s surface for construction sites, search-and-rescue lighting, and more →
Tom's Hardware
space-satellitesfcc-regulation
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