Reflect Orbital wins FCC approval for its first sunlight-beaming satellite test
Ben Nowack and Tristan Semmelhack can test Earendil-1, but the ruling exposes a regulatory gap around commercial light from orbit.
By Ryan Merket · Published
Primary source: The Conversation
Why it matters
The FCC let Reflect Orbital test one satellite while sidestepping the broader question of who regulates commercial sunlight once orbital services affect life on Earth.
Ben Nowack and Tristan Semmelhack have won FCC authorization in July 2026 for Reflect Orbital to construct, launch and operate Earendil-1, a single demonstration satellite designed to test whether a steerable mirror in low Earth orbit can reflect sunlight onto a targeted spot on Earth after dark.…