The FCC says the most controversial aspect of Reflect Orbital's Earendil-1 satellite, its giant mirror, falls outside its authority since the regulator mainly focuses on radio spectrum.
It’s not horribly large, really. It’s a super thin reflective film that unfolds.
It does seem like it would need way too many in the sky to be financially viable. Like, the cost would be much more prohibitive than paying for land and probably like 15% more solar panels to get the equivalent amount of solar electricity. Not to mention the global warming of 50,000 of these to be directing 3 mile areas of extra sunlight.
I say let them build and launch one to see what it can do, but never let them stick up 50,000.
It’s not horribly large, really. It’s a super thin reflective film that unfolds.
It does seem like it would need way too many in the sky to be financially viable. Like, the cost would be much more prohibitive than paying for land and probably like 15% more solar panels to get the equivalent amount of solar electricity. Not to mention the global warming of 50,000 of these to be directing 3 mile areas of extra sunlight.
I say let them build and launch one to see what it can do, but never let them stick up 50,000.