What Happened
Regulatory Green Light For Experimental Spacecraft Amid Astronomer Concerns
The Federal Communications Commission has authorized the launch of Reflect Orbital’s Eärendil-1 satellite, which will test the ability to reflect sunlight into nighttime regions. The 142-kilogram spacecraft is scheduled to launch later this year and deploy a thin-film reflector in low Earth orbit. Despite strong criticism from astronomers and environmentalists, the FCC concluded that concerns about the satellite’s impacts on optical astronomy and the environment were outside its jurisdiction. The decision was reported by SpaceNews.