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.”
Radically changing the night sky, which is what the projects underway would do, will impact every form of life on Earth, from humans to plants.
If approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Reflect Orbital aims to launch 50,000 satellites that would reflect beams of sunlight back to targeted areas of Earth by 2035. The company claims its technology would be used to expand solar energy production, extend agricultural seasons and even replace streetlights in cities. Reflect Orbital did not respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, SpaceX, Elon Musk’s commercial space operation, hopes its 1 million satellites would serve as floating data centers. That is more than 70 times the number of satellites currently orbiting Earth, a “completely unprecedented” amount of objects in space, Thresher said. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.
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