What if sunlight could be bought and sold like electricity? A US-based space startup is working on a plan that sounds straight out of science fiction: Launching giant mirrors into space to reflect sunlight back on to Earth after dark. The plan of California-based Reflect Orbital is to turn sunlight into an on-demand service, which can help solar farms generate electricity for longer, illuminate disaster-hit areas and help in rescue mission. The company has entered into agreement with India’s Skyroot Aerospace for two rocket launches to test the technology.
However, the ambitious idea has also raised concerns among astronomers and environmentalists about its impact on the night sky. Molecules and aerosols scatter some of the light beam across the surrounding sky. Light reaching the ground is reflected upwards and then scattered again.
A peer-reviewed study published in August 2025 modelled what happens when reflected sunlight passes through our atmosphere.
It will cause the light to affect a much wider area than intended. If the mirrors are placed even 14 kilometres away, the resulting glow on the surface of the Earth will be brighter than a full moon.
