US-Based Startup Faces Backlash For Testing Nighttime Sunlight: "Idiotic Project"

Residents in a rural area of California were recently stunned when they spotted a bright light shining down from nearby mountains at night, The Guardian reported. A US-based start-up was behind the test, which was conducted to showcase a futuristic idea of putting thousands of giant mirrors in space to reflect sunlight onto the Earth during the night. The company, Reflect Orbital, hopes to launch 50,000 satellites over the next decade. They argue that the technology could help emergency crews and search-and-rescue teams work safely in the dark, or could even provide power to solar panels at night.

According to the media outlet, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in July approved Reflect Orbital's proposal to launch an initial demonstration satellite next year.

The company had explained that these satellites will orbit the Earth and, via a 59ft-diameter mirror, reflect sunlight in three-mile-wide beams.

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"Search-and-rescue teams are expected to be our first customers, so this was a real-world test conducted alongside teams who would use our technology, a spokesperson for Reflect Orbital said as quoted by the media outlet.

"We'll keep working closely with local communities and authorities wherever we operate, and are excited to show how this technology can help save lives."

However, the environmental groups, astronomers, and local residents have criticised the demonstration. Critics say that all life on Earth evolved around a natural cycle of day and night, and messing with that balance could harm wildlife, disrupt people's sleep, and ruin night skies by adding massive light pollution.

JUST IN: A California space startup has illuminated a section of desert near Mount Whitney at night, demonstrating how future satellites could deliver sunlight to Earth on demand. Reflect Orbital conducted the October 10 test using powerful ground-based spotlights to simulate sunlight redirected from orbit by large reflective mirrors. Working with China Lake Mountain Rescue, the company illuminated terrain across roughly three miles, allowing rescue teams to conduct nighttime searches, stretcher carries and other emergency-response exercises. Reflect Orbital ultimately wants to deploy satellites capable of directing sunlight toward specific areas on Earth after sunset, potentially supporting emergency operations and extending electricity generation at solar farms. The company received FCC authorization in July for its first experimental satellite, Eärendil-1, which will use an 18-meter reflector to test the concept from orbit. The October demonstration used ground-based lighting. No orbital mirror has yet demonstrated the proposed capability.

— Outer Space Today (@outerspacetoday) October 20, 2026

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"This is an idiotic project," Jan Hasselman, a senior attorney with Earthjustice, which is an environmental group, said as quoted. "There are a huge number of unresolved questions and significant potential impacts. Literally all of life on Earth evolved based on the rhythm of day and night, and there is a ton of data showing that messing with this is not a good idea."

"There needs to be some sort of discussion and analysis before we grant these people the right to fundamentally alter the night sky. The proposal for 50,000 of these satellite mirrors is crazy and would really end the night sky as we know it."