Space-Sized Mirrors Could Make Night Look Like Day — Scientists Fear the Hidden Costs
In the spring of next year, Reflect Orbital, an American company, plans to launch the first massive space mirror into near-Earth orbit. The device, 18 by 18 meters, would cast a brightness greater than the full Moon, effectively turning night into day. The initial group of mirrors could appear soon, and by the end of the decade the company envisions almost four thousand similar devices in operation. The project is pitched as a purely commercial tool: clients could redirect sunlight precisely where it’s needed—brightening city streets, mines, or farmland. Yet scientists warn that altering when and where the Sun shines could carry unforeseen consequences.
In This Article:
The Plan: Redirecting Sunlight on Demand
Proponents say a future of on-demand daylight could improve safety, extend productive hours, and support critical operations. The mirrors would be positioned in space and steered to reflect sunlight toward chosen targets, from urban streets to mining sites. Reflect Orbital emphasizes that the service would be customer-driven and controllable, not a planetary glare change. The first mirrors could be operational soon.
The Hidden Costs: Light Pollution and Ecological Disruption
Such bright, persistent light would raise global light pollution, erasing natural darkness at night. Many animals and plants rely on day‑night cycles for feeding, migration, and reproduction, and constant illumination could disrupt these processes. The ecological ripple effects could be wide and long-lasting, affecting ecosystems and agriculture.
Health Risks and Social Implications
Public health concerns center on circadian rhythms that regulate sleep, metabolism, and mood. Even a seemingly soft, directed glow could disturb sleep patterns and overall wellbeing, with potentially greater impacts in high‑latitude regions where winter darkness already poses challenges.
Regulation, Oversight, and the Uncertain Future
Experts warn that current laws offer no explicit limits on such projects, leaving development largely in private hands. Academician Alexander Zheleznyakov of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics notes that building and maintaining thousands of space mirrors is technically challenging and prone to failures or instability. Even if the concept proves technically viable, long-term ecological and health consequences remain uncertain. The reporting on this topic cites Komsomolskaya Pravda.
