Reflect Orbital targets 50,000 mirror satellites, sparking light-pollution concerns

California startup Reflect Orbital plans to reflect sunlight from space onto designated areas of Earth at night, targeting solar power, nighttime search-and-rescue and lighting markets through a "Sunlight as a Service" model. The company aims to deploy up to 50,000 large mirror satellites by 2035, but its first demonstration satellite and recent ground tests have raised concerns over potential light pollution.