Earthlit by Design: Satellite Mirrors Get FCC Green Light

California startup Reflect Orbital won FCC approval to launch Earendil-1, a 59-foot in-space mirror prototype in low Earth orbit to test bouncing sunlight down to Earth, as part of a plan to deploy up to 50,000 mirrors to illuminate areas up to about 3 miles across. Proponents say uses include disaster response, extended industrial work hours, agriculture, light-pollution reduction, and defense, but astronomers warn a full constellation could wash out ground-based observations like those of the Rubin Observatory. Reflect Orbital says it will coordinate with authorities, keep lights off by default, and only redirect light with proper approvals; the FCC says astronomy concerns are outside its jurisdiction and not grounds to deny the launch.