Satellite That Creates Artificial Sunlight? Here's Why Scientists Are Worried

Last Updated:October 13, 2025, 15:16 IST

A satellite that beams sunlight from space? Scientists say it could end darkness and change nights forever — but at what cost?

A single satellite’s beam would be about 15,000 times less intense than the sun at noon, yet visible and impactful. (Josh Spradling/The Planetary Society, CC BY)

Imagine your rooftop bathed in sunlight, even at night. Solar panels could work around the clock, and cities might never fall into darkness again. Sounds promising, doesn’t it? But while the idea of ‘artificial sunlight’ seems like a technological dream, many scientists are raising serious concerns.

An American start-up, Reflect Orbital, has announced plans to develop a satellite-based system that would reflect sunlight from space back to Earth, providing energy to solar farms even during the night.

Dubbed ‘Sunlight on Demand’, the company claims the system could revolutionise energy access. However, experts believe it could have serious consequences for astronomy, wildlife, and human health.

‘Earendil-1’: The Satellite That Will Beam Sunlight Back To Earth

Reflect Orbital plans to launch its first test satellite, ‘Earendil-1’, in 2026. The satellite will be 18 metres wide and is just the beginning. By 2030, the company hopes to deploy a network of 4,000 satellites, each equipped with a 54-metre-wide mirror designed to reflect sunlight to specific locations on Earth.

The goal is to provide enough artificial light, about 200 watts per square metre, or roughly 20% of the brightness of midday sun, to keep solar panels active after sunset.

It won’t be enough to eliminate darkness altogether, but enough to continue energy production through the night.

How Does ‘Sunlight On Demand’ Actually Work?

The system is based on a simple principle: reflection. Much like using a watch to reflect a beam of light onto a wall, these satellites would redirect sunlight from space down to Earth using large mirrors. The difference? These mirrors would be doing it from 625 kilometres above the planet.

Scientists say the reflected light would cover an area roughly 7 kilometres wide, and though far dimmer than daylight, it would still be brighter than a full moon.

A single satellite’s beam would be about 15,000 times less intense than the sun at noon, yet visible and impactful.

Balloon Tests Offer A Glimpse — But Space Is A Different Game

Reflect Orbital’s founder, Ben Novak, tested the idea last year using a 2.5-metre mirror suspended from a hot air balloon. The test managed to produce 516 watts per square metre, about half the strength of direct sunlight, proving the technology works on a small scale.

However, replicating this effect from 625–800 kilometres above the Earth is a different challenge altogether. To achieve the same level of brightness, scientists estimate the satellite would require a mirror stretching 6.5 kilometres across, something that’s currently unfeasible.

Thousands Of Satellites For Minutes Of Light

According to Reflect Orbital, it would take around 3,000 satellites just to maintain a beam of artificial sunlight on one area for a few minutes. That’s because a satellite in low Earth orbit only stays over a single point on the ground for about 3.5 minutes.

To extend that window to even an hour, tens of thousands more satellites would be needed. Ben Novak has even suggested the company might eventually deploy up to 250,000 satellites, more than all existing satellites and space debris combined.

Scientists Are Deeply Concerned

Astronomers and environmental scientists are warning that this kind of artificial illumination could be catastrophic.

Dr Michael Brown, an astronomer at Monash University in Australia, warns that “if these satellites go into operation, parts of the sky will be permanently brighter than the moon."

Dr Matthew Kenworthy from Leiden University adds, “This would devastate astronomical research and could even harm the eyes of people using telescopes. Each satellite’s mirror will shine like a mini sun."

Experts are also worried about the impact on ecosystems. The natural cycle of light and darkness plays a vital role in regulating animal behaviour, human sleep patterns, and the biological rhythms of the planet.

Prolonged artificial light could wreak havoc on birds, insects, and nocturnal animals, not to mention humans.

Reflect Orbital’s Responds To Criticism

In response to criticism, Reflect Orbital claims its technology will be “predictable, safe, and controlled". The company has promised that the beams will only target areas that need it and that they will coordinate with astronomical observatories to avoid interference.

In an interview with Bloomberg, the company added that it would divert light away from sensitive regions and share satellite positioning data in advance to allow scientists to prepare accordingly.

The Future Of Night May Never Be The Same

While Reflect Orbital’s ambitions offer a new way of thinking about energy and infrastructure, the idea of lighting the night sky comes with more than just technical challenges, it opens up ethical and ecological questions about how much artificial light the Earth can take.

For now, the test satellite is due to launch in 2026, but the debate has already begun: are we brightening the future or losing something essential in the dark?

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