#sunlightasaservice — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #sunlightasaservice, aggregated by home.social.
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"More clean, renewable energy and help during a crisis — what’s not to like? If you ask astronomers, there are plenty of concerns. The satellite will be strikingly bright. The consequences range from disrupting scientific observations to concerns over the safety of the public, including the potential for permanent eye damage for anyone unlucky enough to be using a telescope in the wrong place at the wrong time."
https://www.theverge.com/science/976977/space-mirror-reflect-orbital-fcc-solar-eye-damage
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"More clean, renewable energy and help during a crisis — what’s not to like? If you ask astronomers, there are plenty of concerns. The satellite will be strikingly bright. The consequences range from disrupting scientific observations to concerns over the safety of the public, including the potential for permanent eye damage for anyone unlucky enough to be using a telescope in the wrong place at the wrong time."
https://www.theverge.com/science/976977/space-mirror-reflect-orbital-fcc-solar-eye-damage
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"Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse approval of a startup’s plan to beam on-demand sunlight from #space to Earth, arguing the agency ignored the project’s potential impacts on wildlife, astronomy research and eye safety."
#Satellites #SpacePolicy #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #FCC
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"Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse approval of a startup’s plan to beam on-demand sunlight from #space to Earth, arguing the agency ignored the project’s potential impacts on wildlife, astronomy research and eye safety."
#Satellites #SpacePolicy #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #FCC
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"'They're saying we want to launch 50,000 mirrors by 2035,' Benvenuti said. 'That would be catastrophic for astronomy, that is clear.'"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/reflect-orbital-approval-fcc-9.7287535
#Astronomy #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #FCC #SpacePolicy
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"'They're saying we want to launch 50,000 mirrors by 2035,' Benvenuti said. 'That would be catastrophic for astronomy, that is clear.'"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/reflect-orbital-approval-fcc-9.7287535
#Astronomy #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #FCC #SpacePolicy
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"#ReflectOrbital faces staunch opposition from many in the scientific community — including astronomers and scientists who told @MoneyWise that the satellites could cause harm to life on Earth, pollute the night sky and pose, as Dr. Travis Longcore, co-chair of UCLA’s Environmental Science and Engineering Program, contended, 'an existential threat to optical astronomy.'"
https://moneywise.com/news/top-stories/fcc-reflect-orbital-space-mirrors-sunlight-satellites
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"#ReflectOrbital faces staunch opposition from many in the scientific community — including astronomers and scientists who told @MoneyWise that the satellites could cause harm to life on Earth, pollute the night sky and pose, as Dr. Travis Longcore, co-chair of UCLA’s Environmental Science and Engineering Program, contended, 'an existential threat to optical astronomy.'"
https://moneywise.com/news/top-stories/fcc-reflect-orbital-space-mirrors-sunlight-satellites
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"In Genesis, God said, 'Let there be light,' and then saw that 'the light was good.' Later this year, a satellite company called Reflect Orbital will attempt a similar miracle of illumination. Will it deliver too much of a good thing?"
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/goodbye-darkness-my-old-friend-5e54cdbf
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"In Genesis, God said, 'Let there be light,' and then saw that 'the light was good.' Later this year, a satellite company called Reflect Orbital will attempt a similar miracle of illumination. Will it deliver too much of a good thing?"
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/goodbye-darkness-my-old-friend-5e54cdbf
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"Telescopes for amateur astronomers already come with a warning to avoid looking at the Sun. Now they will need another one for Reflect Orbital satellites." (via @skyandtelescope)
#Satellites #SpaceEnvironment #SunlightAsAService #Astronomy
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"Telescopes for amateur astronomers already come with a warning to avoid looking at the Sun. Now they will need another one for Reflect Orbital satellites." (via @skyandtelescope)
#Satellites #SpaceEnvironment #SunlightAsAService #Astronomy
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"To approve [the Reflect Orbital #FCC application], after so many people, and so many experts like the ecologists, and scientific groups like the American Astronomical Society told you not to? It sure sounds arbitrary and capricious to me, and perhaps in this, when future litigation digs into that record, we might also find the kernel of its undoing."
https://joshuasokol.substack.com/p/diamonds-are-forever-forever-forever
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"To approve [the Reflect Orbital #FCC application], after so many people, and so many experts like the ecologists, and scientific groups like the American Astronomical Society told you not to? It sure sounds arbitrary and capricious to me, and perhaps in this, when future litigation digs into that record, we might also find the kernel of its undoing."
https://joshuasokol.substack.com/p/diamonds-are-forever-forever-forever
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"WIRED wrote about Reflect Orbital's giant mirror in September 2024, when the project was still in its early stages: 'The ambitious goal of the Santa Monica, California–based startup is to ensure a continuous supply of light for large solar panel installations.' Two years later, the Trump administration has given the green light to this provider of 'on-demand' sunlight."
https://www.wired.com/story/reflect-orbital-earendil-mirror-satellite-fcc/
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"WIRED wrote about Reflect Orbital's giant mirror in September 2024, when the project was still in its early stages: 'The ambitious goal of the Santa Monica, California–based startup is to ensure a continuous supply of light for large solar panel installations.' Two years later, the Trump administration has given the green light to this provider of 'on-demand' sunlight."
https://www.wired.com/story/reflect-orbital-earendil-mirror-satellite-fcc/
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As a regulatory agency, what do you do if you're unsure whether you have the statutory authority to approve some action?
If you're the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, you approve it anyway.
#Satellites #Space #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #UnitedStates
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As a regulatory agency, what do you do if you're unsure whether you have the statutory authority to approve some action?
If you're the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, you approve it anyway.
#Satellites #Space #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #UnitedStates
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"'These proposals would not only have a disastrous impact on the science of #astronomy, they would also hinder the right of everybody on Earth to enjoy the night sky. That is unacceptable.
"The stars above us are a valued part of human heritage – deploying more than one million exceptionally bright #satellites would utterly destroy this and permanently scar the natural landscape.'"
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"'These proposals would not only have a disastrous impact on the science of #astronomy, they would also hinder the right of everybody on Earth to enjoy the night sky. That is unacceptable.
"The stars above us are a valued part of human heritage – deploying more than one million exceptionally bright #satellites would utterly destroy this and permanently scar the natural landscape.'"
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"A start-up company wants to light up the night with 50,000 big mirrors orbiting Earth. Opponents say the mirrors could distract airplane pilots, mess up astronomical observations and interfere with circadian rhythms — the light-and-dark cycles that help people, creatures and plants know when to wake and sleep, when to bloom, when to migrate and so forth."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/climate/space-mirror-satellite-solar.html
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"A start-up company wants to light up the night with 50,000 big mirrors orbiting Earth. Opponents say the mirrors could distract airplane pilots, mess up astronomical observations and interfere with circadian rhythms — the light-and-dark cycles that help people, creatures and plants know when to wake and sleep, when to bloom, when to migrate and so forth."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/climate/space-mirror-satellite-solar.html
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From @esoastronomy's comment to the U.S. Federal Communication Commission on the #ReflectOrbital filing for clearance to operate an orbital sunlight reflector: “ESO expresses support for the submissions to the FCC by the global astronomical community and emphasises that the deployment of sunlight as a service will have far reaching implications to the #environment, and human health.”
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From @esoastronomy's comment to the U.S. Federal Communication Commission on the #ReflectOrbital filing for clearance to operate an orbital sunlight reflector: “ESO expresses support for the submissions to the FCC by the global astronomical community and emphasises that the deployment of sunlight as a service will have far reaching implications to the #environment, and human health.”
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Astronomers for Planet Earth statement on both the pending Reflect Orbital and @SpaceX 1M orbital data centers applications to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission: "A4E is firmly opposed to these projects, which compromise our field of interest, astronomy, and threaten the ecosystem and dark sky."
https://mailchi.mp/a3f870943c46/a4e-newsletter-q3-10346144
#Space #Satellites #SunlightAsAService #DataCenters #Environment #FCC
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Astronomers for Planet Earth statement on both the pending Reflect Orbital and @SpaceX 1M orbital data centers applications to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission: "A4E is firmly opposed to these projects, which compromise our field of interest, astronomy, and threaten the ecosystem and dark sky."
https://mailchi.mp/a3f870943c46/a4e-newsletter-q3-10346144
#Space #Satellites #SunlightAsAService #DataCenters #Environment #FCC
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"Across regions and borders, cultures and customs, the one thing we share is the night sky. Access to the night sky is a crucial part of our scientific, religious, and cultural practices across the globe. Right now, one government agency has the power to completely alter the night sky as we know it."
https://astrobites.org/2026/02/26/reflect-orbital-ai-data-center/
#Space #SpaceEnvironment #FCC #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #SpaceX #DataCenters
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"Across regions and borders, cultures and customs, the one thing we share is the night sky. Access to the night sky is a crucial part of our scientific, religious, and cultural practices across the globe. Right now, one government agency has the power to completely alter the night sky as we know it."
https://astrobites.org/2026/02/26/reflect-orbital-ai-data-center/
#Space #SpaceEnvironment #FCC #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #SpaceX #DataCenters
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"Two little-noted applications under review by the Federal Communications Commission would, if fully implemented, fundamentally remake the night sky. But the #FCC, the satellite regulator, appears to have fast-tracked approval without much of a pause to weigh the benefits of these proposals against the harms they could cause to life on the planet."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/02/27/satellites-light-pollution-spacex/
#Space #SpaceEnvironment #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #DataCenters
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"Two little-noted applications under review by the Federal Communications Commission would, if fully implemented, fundamentally remake the night sky. But the #FCC, the satellite regulator, appears to have fast-tracked approval without much of a pause to weigh the benefits of these proposals against the harms they could cause to life on the planet."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/02/27/satellites-light-pollution-spacex/
#Space #SpaceEnvironment #ReflectOrbital #SunlightAsAService #DataCenters
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The U.S. Federal Communication Commission has opened public comment periods on two space licensing applications with very high stakes for #astronomy. And two leading organizations have issued action alerts with instructions for submitting comments. (Note: non-U.S. persons and organizations may file FCC comments!)
DarkSky International: https://darksky.org/news/two-satellite-proposals-threaten-the-night-sky-the-window-to-act-is-now/
American Astronomical Society: https://aas.org/action-alert-provide-input-fcc-proposed-satellite-systems
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The U.S. Federal Communication Commission has opened public comment periods on two space licensing applications with very high stakes for #astronomy. And two leading organizations have issued action alerts with instructions for submitting comments. (Note: non-U.S. persons and organizations may file FCC comments!)
DarkSky International: https://darksky.org/news/two-satellite-proposals-threaten-the-night-sky-the-window-to-act-is-now/
American Astronomical Society: https://aas.org/action-alert-provide-input-fcc-proposed-satellite-systems
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DarkSky International has issued a public position on Reflect Orbital (and 'Sunlight As A Service' more generally): "Given the documented risks, DarkSky opposes Reflect Orbital’s proposed project as currently conceived. Consistent with our position on satellite mega-constellations, we urge the #FCC to close longstanding regulatory gaps that allow satellite deployments to proceed without environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (#NEPA)."
It encourages sign-ons to its open letter to Reflect Orbital and its investors: https://darksky.org/news/organizational-statement-reflect-orbital/
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DarkSky International has issued a public position on Reflect Orbital (and 'Sunlight As A Service' more generally): "Given the documented risks, DarkSky opposes Reflect Orbital’s proposed project as currently conceived. Consistent with our position on satellite mega-constellations, we urge the #FCC to close longstanding regulatory gaps that allow satellite deployments to proceed without environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (#NEPA)."
It encourages sign-ons to its open letter to Reflect Orbital and its investors: https://darksky.org/news/organizational-statement-reflect-orbital/
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The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has sent Reflect Orbital a list of issues in their application that require a response by 5th January. The potential visual effects of their sunlight reflectors are partially addressed by this footnote in the FCC letter: "Please describe what steps Reflect Orbital has taken to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense/Air Force to mitigate impacts on commercial and military aircraft operations, including potential impacts to aircraft pilots’ vision at night, from reflected sunlight directed at the Earth’s surface."
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The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has sent Reflect Orbital a list of issues in their application that require a response by 5th January. The potential visual effects of their sunlight reflectors are partially addressed by this footnote in the FCC letter: "Please describe what steps Reflect Orbital has taken to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense/Air Force to mitigate impacts on commercial and military aircraft operations, including potential impacts to aircraft pilots’ vision at night, from reflected sunlight directed at the Earth’s surface."
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Thanks to TerezaPultarova and @spacedotcom for focusing on our concerns about the possible impact of Reflect Orbital's planned activities on #astronomy.
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Thanks to TerezaPultarova and @spacedotcom for focusing on our concerns about the possible impact of Reflect Orbital's planned activities on #astronomy.
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"The most unfortunate part of the Reflect Orbital proposal is how unnecessary it is. We already have solutions to all of the problems that it purports to solve, with none of the many significant consequences that an array of giant mirrors would bring to Earth. But sadly, the days of the 'wild, wild west' still continue when it comes to the environment surrounding our planet: low-Earth orbit."
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/true-cost-solar-power-night-reflect-orbital/
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"The most unfortunate part of the Reflect Orbital proposal is how unnecessary it is. We already have solutions to all of the problems that it purports to solve, with none of the many significant consequences that an array of giant mirrors would bring to Earth. But sadly, the days of the 'wild, wild west' still continue when it comes to the environment surrounding our planet: low-Earth orbit."
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/true-cost-solar-power-night-reflect-orbital/