Crazy or? This American company wants to sell sunlight at night, the list of criticism is huge

The company was founded by Ben Nowack, and their vision is a constellation of thousands of satellites equipped with huge reflective mirrors. Users would enter GPS coordinates through a website or application, and the system would direct the satellite and deliver a beam of light to the desired location in just thirty seconds. Although it sounds like science fiction, the company is bigger. collected over 28 million dollars from well-known investors and caused huge public interest.

How does “Sun on Demand” work?

The technology is based on a fleet of satellites in low Earth orbit, equipped with ultralight mirrors with a diameter of about 18 to 54 meters. Those mirrors would catch the Sun’s light that would otherwise miss the Earth and direct it towards the dark side of the planet. The initial version of the service would create a light beam with a diameter of about five kilometers, the intensity of which would be several times stronger than the full moon.

Since satellites in low orbit move very quickly, one satellite can illuminate a specific area for only a few minutes. For continuous illumination, a whole swarm of satellites would be needed, which would “handover” the task to each other, providing an uninterrupted beam of light. The company plans to launch the first prototype satellite, called Earendil-1, već in 2026, with the goal of having about four thousand such satellites in orbit by 2030. The price of the service, according to announcements, would be around 5,000 US dollars per hour for the light of one mirror.

Ambitious goals and numerous controversies

Reflect Orbital presents technology as a solution to numerous problems. The primary goal is to enable solar power plants to produce energy during the night as well, which would increase the availability of the same energy. In addition, they also mention application in emergency situations, such as lighting disaster-stricken areas for easier search and rescue, but also for lighting night festivals or extending the working day in agriculture.

However, this ambitious plan has met with heavy criticism from the scientific community and environmental organizations. Astronomers warn that thousands of bright objects in the sky could permanently threaten the observation of the universe from Earth. Even when they are not active, the satellites would create light pollution, and a direct beam of light near the observatory could destroy sensitive and expensive equipment. The non-profit organization DarkSky warns more about these risks.

Scientists are sounding the alarm because of unforeseeable consequences

Experts express deep concern about the potential impact on ecosystems and human health. Artificial light at night disrupts the natural circadian rhythm of animals, affecting their navigation, migration, feeding and reproduction. Migratory birds and nocturnal pollinators are especially endangered, which could destabilize entire food chains.

​- Noć should be dark, and these satellites are designed to noć turn into a day. It’s against every part of my being to imagine that we could deliberately banish the night. – said James Lowenthal, an astronomer from Smith College.

There is also a serious risk to public safety. Sudden flashes from the sky could blind and distract pilots or drivers, while looking at a satellite through binoculars or a telescope could cause permanent eye damage, similar to looking into a partial solar eclipse. Critics also highlight the problem of space debris and atmospheric pollution with metals such as aluminum and silver when thousands of satellites burn up at the end of their life on their way back to Earth. Despiteč All in all, the company continues development and is awaiting approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to begin launches.