CAPE CANAVERAL, July 16 — The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has granted a license for a giant ‘space mirror’ satellite, a project developed by the company SpaceMirror Inc. The satellite is designed to reflect sunlight down to Earth for commercial purposes. The approval came through in late 2023, and the company now expects a launch in 2025. Astronomers are already raising alarms.
Representatives from the American Astronomical Society have expressed alarm at the FCC’s decision. Their concern is straightforward: a giant reflective object in low Earth orbit will disrupt ground-based telescopes.
The satellite, with a surface area of approximately 100 square meters, is set to become one of the largest reflective objects in low Earth orbit.
A concept with history
The idea of orbiting mirrors is not new. The project has been compared to the Znamya experiment conducted by Russia in the 1990s, which attempted to beam sunlight to Earth using a space-based reflector. SpaceMirror Inc.’s effort is different — it is commercial, licensed, and moving toward production.
The scale is what catches the eye. A 100-square-meter reflective surface in orbit means a concentrated beam of sunlight that can be directed at specific locations on the ground.
The company has not disclosed its clients or the exact commercial applications it envisions, but the FCC’s approval signals that regulators see this as a legitimate business venture, not a science experiment.
Astronomers push back
The American Astronomical Society has not been quiet. The organization’s representatives have cited potential disruption to astronomical observations as a primary reason for concern. For astronomers, every new bright object in the night sky is a problem.
Low Earth orbit is already crowded with communications satellites that reflect sunlight; a purpose-built mirror, orders of magnitude brighter than a typical satellite, represents a different class of threat. The FCC’s decision has prompted calls for more stringent regulations on satellite brightness to protect scientific research.
Astronomers argue that the current regulatory framework was never designed to handle objects like this — objects whose entire purpose is to reflect light back at the planet. SpaceMirror Inc. has not commented publicly on the astronomers’ concerns. The company’s focus remains on the 2025 launch window and the commercial potential of its technology.
What comes next
The launch is still more than a year away. That gives time for the regulatory debate to play out. The FCC has granted the license, but the agency could face pressure from the scientific community, and from Congress, to revisit the terms.
The American Astronomical Society is already mobilizing. On the ground, the scene is quiet for now.
No mirror has launched. But the license is granted, the satellite is being built, and by 2025, the night sky may look very different.
Sources
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