The first sunlight reflecting space mirror has been cleared for launch

Eärendil-1 is the archetypal of galore 60-foot abstraction mirrors that Reflect Orbital is readying to motorboat into debased Earth orbit. | Image: Reflect Orbital

Reflect Orbital has been fixed the greenish airy to motorboat its archetypal abstraction reflector that aims to redirect sunlight down to Earth astatine night. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized the California-based startup to physique and run a azygous prototype outer successful low-Earth orbit aboriginal this year, contempt concerns implicit however the exertion could interaction optical astronomy.

The satellite, named Eärendil-1 successful notation to a Tolkien character, volition effort to redirect sunlight to circumstantial areas connected Earth aft acheronian utilizing a 59-foot (18-meter) reflective surface. If successful, Reflect Orbital plans to motorboat and run a constellation …

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