Reflect Orbital receives FCC approval for first space reflector test launch

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has granted a frequency allocation for Reflect Orbital’s inaugural demonstration mission, Eärendil‑1. The satellite will deploy an 18 × 18 meter unfoldable mirror designed to reflect sunlight toward Earth on demand. The FCC filing lists a near‑polar orbit of about 625 km altitude with an 88° inclination, suggesting a launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, likely on a SpaceX vehicle, as early as late 2024.

Reflect Orbital envisions a fleet of up to 50,000 such reflectors by 2035, marketing the capability for extended daylight, disaster‑relief illumination and agricultural uses. Astronomers and other stakeholders have raised concerns that active, bright reflectors could degrade night‑sky visibility, affect aviation safety and impact nocturnal wildlife. The commission’s approval pertains solely to spectrum use and does not evaluate those broader environmental or scientific effects.