The US Federal Communications Commission has approved the launch of Earendil-1, a test satellite from startup Reflect Orbital. The mission is meant to evaluate a space-based reflector that could send sunlight toward selected points on Earth.
Based on the available details, Earendil-1 carries a thin-film reflector designed to redirect sunlight with timing and location in mind. The concept is to use sunlight that is already available in space and steer it toward specific areas, including times when it is dark on the ground.
The approval is an important regulatory step for Reflect Orbital as it moves ahead with the demonstration mission. Earendil-1 appears to be aimed at proving whether a satellite can control reflected light accurately enough for practical use, rather than serving as a full commercial system from the start.
The project stands out because it combines satellite hardware with an unusual approach to lighting from orbit. While the test still has to show how well the system works in practice, the FCC decision clears the way for Reflect Orbital to move forward with its sunlight-reflection experiment.
