Beams

Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday urging the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency failed to consider the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy, reopening debate over regulating commercial ventures that affect the night sky and ecosystems.

The US Department of Defense has moved a demonstration contract forward for a project to collect solar energy in space and beam it back to Earth. If successful, the technology could provide continuous power regardless of weather or time of day, and interest is focused on its potential military and civilian energy applications.

New contracts point to rising commercial and institutional interest in space-based solar power, a concept that involves collecting solar energy in orbit and beaming it to Earth. The agreements suggest momentum behind a technology long discussed as a possible clean energy source, though details of the contracts and the parties involved remain limited.