Say no to sunlight for sale
An unprecedented threat to the night
DarkSky International is closely monitoring and mobilizing against an emerging threat to the nighttime environment: orbital reflectors, satellites equipped with large mirrors designed to sell sunlight after dark. In July 2026, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Earendil-1, the first test satellite from Reflect Orbital, a California-based startup. The company aims to follow this initial test with thousands of additional satellites, potentially deploying as many as 50,000 in the future.
This represents a fundamental change to the nighttime environment, introducing a new form of light pollution from space that could reach virtually anywhere on Earth, including some of the world’s darkest and most protected places. Reflect Orbital says it will only direct sunlight to locations where it is wanted. DarkSky is giving people and communities everywhere a clear way to say no.
Orbital reflectors: What we know
The concept is by no means new. First tested during the Soviet era, orbital reflectors are now being proposed as a commercial service, with ambitious claims but little evidence of their real-world effectiveness. No law anywhere specifically governs the sale of reflected sunlight, and many questions remain unanswered. Here’s what we know.
What are they, and how do they work?
Orbital reflectors are satellites equipped with large mirrors designed to redirect sunlight onto Earth after dark. While the ground below is in darkness, satellites orbiting high above can remain in sunlight, allowing their mirrors to reflect that light toward targeted areas on Earth.
Reflect Orbital’s first satellite, Earendil-1, will unfold a mirror about 18 meters across, 600 to 650 kilometers above Earth, and steer sunlight onto a patch of ground roughly five kilometers wide. Each satellite lights an area for only a few minutes as it passes overhead, so providing sustained illumination at levels brighter than a full moon would require thousands of satellites working in sequence.
In 1993, a Russian experiment called Znamya 2 briefly reflected sunlight onto Earth. What is new is the plan to sell it. Its effectiveness at scale remains unproven, and the reflected light could be visible far beyond the intended target area.
What problem are they trying to solve?
Reflect Orbital has proposed a wide range of applications for its technology, from extending solar power generation after sunset to supporting nighttime search-and-rescue operations, illuminating industrial and agricultural work sites, and even replacing traditional streetlights. In a public presentation, the company’s CEO, Ben Nowack, also suggested potential military applications for the technology, though he declined to elaborate on how it might be used. (Watch the presentation)
The company has also suggested that customers could buy sunlight on demand through a smartphone app, letting a paying customer decide when the night ends over vast stretches of land.
However, none of these proposed applications has been demonstrated from orbit, and significant questions remain about their practicality, effectiveness, and cost. During a ground-based lighting demonstration near Lone Pine, California, volunteer search-and-rescue crews described the additional illumination as only “marginally better” and raised concerns about whether the cost would make it practical for their operations. (Read more)
While the company has made ambitious claims about the technology’s potential, its real-world benefits, economic viability, and environmental consequences remain largely unproven.
What are the risks?
If deployed as proposed, orbital reflectors would bring light pollution from space on an unprecedented scale. A five-kilometer beam does not stop at a customer’s fence. It falls on neighbors, nearby towns, and habitat, and scattered light spreads further into the sky we all share.
DarkSky has identified five major concerns:
Orbital debris. Large mirrors in low Earth orbit could increase collision risks and contribute to the growing problem of space debris.
Wildlife and ecosystems. Artificial light at night can disrupt navigation, migration, feeding, and reproduction, threatening biodiversity and the balance of nocturnal ecosystems.
Human well-being. Exposure to artificial light at night can disrupt circadian rhythms that regulate sleep and other biological processes. Viewing reflected sunlight through optical devices may also pose risks of eye damage.
Public safety. Sudden flashes, glare, and sweeping beams of light could threaten night vision and create hazards for pilots, drivers, and observers.
Astronomy. Scattered light could increase skyglow and interfere with astronomical research, while direct illumination near observatories could damage sensitive instruments.
Protect your community from reflected light
DarkSky International is working on creative solutions to address the emerging threat of orbital reflectors. Building awareness is a critical first step, as many people are still unfamiliar with the technology and its potential impacts. You can help by exploring and sharing our articles and resources about Reflect Orbital.
New policy templates to regulate the sale of sunlight
Ready to take your advocacy a step further? DarkSky has developed ready-to-use policy templates to help protect communities from sunlight reflected from orbit.
Reflect Orbital has stated that it will only direct reflected sunlight to areas that want it, and DarkSky is taking the company at its word. One buyer’s consent does not represent everyone living within the reach of its large beam. That’s why we’ve developed the first policies specifically designed to regulate sunlight reflected from orbit. These free resources give everyone, from individual landowners to local communities and national governments, the tools to formally say no.
Wherever you live, you can act today:
- Landowners: Sign a declaration of non-consent for your property.
- Local leaders: Adopt a resolution of non-consent, then a local ordinance.
- State legislators: Introduce the model bill, or share it with someone who can.
- Outside the United States: Use the international adaptation guide to take this to your local and national leaders.
Access templates: Ban the purchase of reflected sunlight in your community
Communities can act now to discourage the commercial use of reflected sunlight from orbit. DarkSky has developed ready-to-use policy templates to help advocates and community organizations work with local leaders to establish some of the first legal frameworks restricting its purchase. Submit the form below to access DarkSky’s policy templates and help protect your community from unwanted illumination.
