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#reflectorbital

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mxchara
Mx. Chara Aznable (they/them) of Pnictogen @mxchara@seattle.pink · 6d ago
btw on the #ReflectOrbital business, that catastrophically offensive startup who wants to put a big floating mirror in #space called "Eärendil-1". they're claiming to offer "sunlight as a service" and pretending it's a green energy thing. almost certainly they're lying about that and only REALLY want to put a big fucking bright light in the sky because...well these are #tech dunces. the vandalism is the point. they want to leave a mark on the Universe and they don't care if the mark is a gaping wound. but I can also believe easily that techbros are so impatient and cloddish that they can't wait for the Sun to come up
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space_environmentalism
Space Environmentalism @space_environmentalism@mastodon.social · 6d ago
"#ReflectOrbital faces staunch opposition from many in the scientific community — including astronomers and scientists who told @MoneyWise@flipboard.com that the satellites could cause harm to life on Earth, pollute the night sky and pose, as Dr. Travis Longcore, co-chair of UCLA’s Environmental Science and Engineering Program, contended, 'an existential threat to optical astronomy.'" https://moneywise.com/news/top-stories/fcc-reflect-orbital-space-mirrors-sunlight-satellites #Space #Satellite #SunlightAsAService
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SecularJeffrey
GentleMan Gef @SecularJeffrey@ohai.social · Jul 16, 2026
Mr Burns already solved the #ReflectOrbital problem folks!
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b
b҉ @b@convo.casa · Jul 11, 2026
Replying to @b@convo.casa
https://ca.pcmag.com/news/16760/fcc-approves-reflect-orbitals-giant-mirror-satellite-that-astronomers-hate On Thursday, the FCC granted the California-based Reflect Orbital permission to launch and operate the satellite in low-Earth orbit using the requested radio spectrum. The reflected light from satellite is supposed to span an area of about three miles wide on the ground. #reflectOrbital #fcc #USPOL #MAGA #corruption #classwar #lightpollution
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b
b҉ @b@convo.casa · Jul 11, 2026
https://darksky.org/news/organizational-statement-reflect-orbital/ Reflect Orbital, a planned orbital illumination system, proposes to use in-space mirrors mounted on satellites to reflect sunlight down to Earth at night. The company has described the capability to provide “sunlight on demand” through satellite constellations designed to illuminate areas up to 5 kilometers wide at intensities between 0.8 and 2.3 lux—several times brighter than a full moon. To achieve these levels, multiple satellites would be required for each target area, with illumination lasting only a few minutes as satellites pass overhead. Reflect Orbital has outlined plans for thousands of satellites and is seeking FCC approval to launch its first prototypes in 2026. #reflectOrbital #fcc #USPOL #MAGA #corruption #classwar #lightpollution
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FinchHaven
FinchHaven sfba @FinchHaven@sfba.social · Jul 11, 2026
Replying to @AAKL@infosec.exchange
@AAKL@infosec.exchange I actually searched that article for two key words: 'diameter' and 'beam' It seems that in all the recent breathless coverage of #ReflectOrbital one initial point has been dropped from the discussion completely Exactly how *wide* is the reflected beam going to be, cast on the Earth's surface? It's not like you can stop-down the satellite's beam like the aperture of a camera I distinctly remember the beam diameter being over a kilometer wide -- that you'd be under, while the real target is away somewhere else Seems no one wants to talk about that minor detail any more -- that I've seen, any way... Oh "Reflect Orbital says the satellite will direct a moving beam of sunlight onto areas approximately five kilometers (3.1 miles) wide." 3.1 miles wide? How do you get out from under that if you don't want it to be daylight? Here: https://www.techspot.com/news/113068-fcc-approves-giant-mirror-satellite-designed-beam-sunlight.html cc @TheConversationUS@newsie.social
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decembr14
KB @decembr14@mastodon.scot · Jul 11, 2026
I’ve been in the satellite industry for over four decades, and in the last of these I’ve been seriously concerned by the explosion in numbers placed in Low Earth Orbit. And now there’s Reflect Orbital. 🤦‍♂️ The FCC said that the “risks of harm raised on the record regarding Reflect Orbital’s solar reflector are unrelated to the Commission’s role in authorizing use of radiofrequency spectrum.” And there’s the problem, right there. https://theconversation.com/the-u-s-just-approved-a-giant-space-mirror-to-test-sunlight-on-demand-low-earth-orbit-is-getting-weird-283482 #LEO #FCC #Satellite #ReflectOrbital
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MissConstrue
MissConstrue @MissConstrue@mefi.social · Jul 10, 2026
RE: https://mastodon.social/@sundogplanets/116893541666491703 !! Five Alarm: This is real fucking bad !! Reflect Orbital, a planned orbital illumination system, proposes to use in-space mirrors mounted on satellites to reflect sunlight down to Earth at night. They say they will provide “sunlight on demand” through satellite constellations designed to illuminate areas up to 5 kilometers wide at intensities between 0.8 and 2.3 lux—several times brighter than a full moon. #ReflectOrbital has outlined plans for thousands of satellites and just got #FCC approval to launch. Links in Prof. Lawler's thread explain the science and the insanity of this project. We cannot allow this manifestation of a Bond villain plan to happen. #DarkSky #RightToNight
Quoting
Prof. Sam Lawler @sundogplanets@mastodon.social
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK NOOOOO https://ca.pcmag.com/news/16760/fcc-approves-reflect-orbitals-giant-mirror-satellite-that-astronomers-hate
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