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Reflect Orbital's Unannounced Sunlight Test Alarms Astronomers

Original: 🔆 Unannounced Test by Controversial “Sunlight-as-a-Service” Space Startup Shocks Astronomers ｢ Experts have pushed back

Space startup Reflect Orbital, which proposes selling bursts of reflected sunlight as a commercial service, carried out an unannounced test that has shocked astronomers. Experts, including researchers led by Bakos, have pushed back against the company's claims that its sunlight beams can be controlled and dimmed, warning the project threatens night-sky observations.

Why now: The company's unannounced test and growing scientific criticism of its sunlight-reflection plans have sparked fresh debate about commercial use of space and light pollution.

Reflect OrbitalBakosastronomers

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Evidence

• 🔆 Unannounced Test by Controversial “Sunlight-as-a-Service” Space Startup Shocks Astronomers ｢ Experts have pushed back against Reflect Orbital’s claims that the beams will be controllable and “dimmable.” One recent paper authored by Bakos and his colleagues found that the… · jbz@indieweb.social · 3

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