FCC批准首颗太空反射镜卫星发射

The Federal Communications Commission has approved the launch of a satellite designed to reflect sunlight onto parts of Earth after dark, moving one of the space industry’s most controversial ideas from an ambitious proposal toward a real orbital test. California startup Reflect Orbital received authorization to build, launch, and operate Eärendil-1, an experimental satellite carrying a large reflective surface that can redirect sunlight toward selected locations on the ground. The company plans to launch the spacecraft later this year into low Earth orbit, where it will test whether ultrathin mirrors can create controlled beams of illumination after sunset. Reflect Orbital argues that sunlight on demand could support solar farms, emergency response, construction, agriculture, and remote infrastructure. …