The FCC approved “space mirrors” that experts say could blind stargazers and disrupt wildlife– www.techspot.com

WTF in Space: Reflect Orbital proposed a bold plan to launch a large number of “space mirrors” into Earth’s orbit and surprisingly enough, the FCC gave the idea the green light. Now, experts and researchers are warning that the project could have potentially dangerous effects on human health and the planet’s natural cycles.

In July, the FCC approved Reflect Orbital’s proposal to deploy satellites capable of reflecting sunlight from orbit. These “space mirrors” are designed to redirect sunlight toward specific areas of the planet’s surface, with potential benefits for power generation and other applications. Experts continue to debate the plan, while the California-based startup is betting on its technology’s “safeguards.”

The “mirrors in space” concept is certainly worth discussing, as the nearly 2,000 public comments received by the FCC demonstrate. A new critical assessment comes from Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society. In a recent interview, Massey described the FCC’s approval as “extraordinary.”

Reflect Orbital is now planning to launch Eärendil-1, its first space-mirror prototype. Experts warn that amateur astronomers observing the satellite could risk serious eye damage. Looking directly at sunlight reflected from the device could be comparable to viewing the Sun without adequate eye protection, with Massey describing the potential exposure as a significant risk to human health.