This article was originally posted on Northeastern Global News by Cody Mello-Klein.
An array of man-made satellites beam sunlight down to Earth. An artificial constellation of thousands of satellites illuminates the night sky.
These scenarios might sound like science fiction. But between SpaceX’s plans to launch 1 million satellites as part of its satellite-based internet network Starlink, and Reflect Orbital’s sunlight reflecting space mirrors, private companies could change the way our night sky looks. In fact, it could look more like daytime.
For life on Earth, which relies on a traditional day-night cycle, that could spell disaster, experts said.
“In places like cities, where you don’t get night anymore in the traditional sense, a lot of species really struggle,” said Anncy Thresher, an assistant professor of public policy, urban affairs and philosophy at Northeastern University who focuses on environmental issues. “We know that’s true just from streetlights and the lights from normal human activity, let alone if you’re pointing a beam of sunlight at areas.”
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