this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2025
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Controversial startup's plan to 'sell sunlight' using giant mirrors in space would be 'catastrophic' and 'horrifying,' astronomers warn (www.livescience.com)
submitted 18 hours ago by themachinestops@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/technology@lemmy.world
113 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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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[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 14 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

I think there’s a couple of Bond villains with similar setups. Not sure how I feel about that, but felt it was worth mentioning.

[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago

We are living in a moment in time now where CEOs are blatantly Bond villains but no one to stop them except by popular revolt.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 3 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

If any of these CEOs have diamonds embedded in their face, transitioned to being British from North Korean, or has a 3rd nipple: Keep an eye on 'em.

[–] Burninator05@lemmy.world 4 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

New rule. All CEOs must now always be shirtless so we can all confirm that they don't have a third nipple.

[–] Palerider@feddit.uk 2 points 15 hours ago

Fucking hell it was Chandler all along!