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Is a future lit by artificial sunlight from space a viable ⁢business, or a ⁤spectacularly misguided idea? Reflect ⁣Orbital aims to find out.

The orbital ⁤habitat is becoming increasingly crowded.⁢ ⁢ A booming satellite industry, valued at $286 billion in 2022 and projected for substantial growth, is driving innovation - and raising concerns about space debris and light⁢ pollution.Amidst this landscape,a startup called Reflect Orbital is pursuing a particularly ambitious,and some would say outlandish,concept: delivering sunlight to Earth on demand using a constellation of massive space mirrors.

Reflect Orbital, founded by former SpaceX intern Ben Nowack, proposes a network of satellites each equipped with a large, highly reflective surface.These mirrors would capture sunlight and redirect it to designated ⁤locations on Earth. The company initially sold reservations for "spots of light" - essentially, the⁢ right ⁢to have a beam of artificial sunlight shone on a specific location at a specific time. The initial marketing focused on novelty applications, like creating instant daylight for events or providing illumination ⁢in perpetually dark areas.

However, Reflect⁢ Orbital has ⁢increasingly emphasized potential applications for national defense, ⁢securing a $1.25 million contract from the US Air Force.⁤ This shift in focus suggests a strategic pivot towards government contracts and a more serious consideration of the technology's ⁢potential beyond mere entertainment.

The core concept relies on precise control of large,lightweight mirrors in orbit. Each mirror would need to be accurately⁤ oriented to capture sunlight⁢ and reflect it towards the target area. This⁤ requires elegant tracking and control systems, as well as robust materials capable of ⁣withstanding the harsh conditions of space. The size of the mirrors is also a notable challenge. Reflect Orbital's planned demo craft is⁢ 60-by-