Environmental Groups Petition FCC to Block Space Sunlight Project

Four environmental organizations filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday to reverse the agency's approval of a project by Reflect Orbital to beam on-demand sunlight from space. The coalition, comprising DarkSky International, Environment America, the American Bird Conservancy, and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, claims the agency ignored risks to astronomical research, eye safety, and wildlife.

The dispute centers on the Earendil-1 demonstration satellite, which uses a 59-foot-wide mirror to focus a 3.1-mile-wide beam of light onto Earth from an altitude of 400 miles. While the current FCC approval covers only this single test mission, Reflect Orbital intends to deploy a megaconstellation of more than 50,000 satellites by 2035.

Opponents argue the intense light beams could cause permanent retinal damage to humans and disrupt the behavior of nocturnal animals. Additionally, the coalition warns that the project would wash out the night sky, hindering the work of observatories worldwide.