Overview
- The FCC Space Bureau granted Reflect Orbital permission for the Eärendil-1 demonstration on July 9, 2026 under a license focused on radio operations and debris mitigation.
- On August 10, 2026, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, DarkSky International, the American Bird Conservancy and Environment America filed a formal Application for Review asking the full FCC to reverse the Space Bureau order and require a NEPA environmental study.
- Eärendil-1 is designed to deploy a mirror about a tenth of an acre at roughly 600–650 km altitude and steer a ground-facing beam about 5 km wide as it sweeps the surface.
- Scientists, pilots and conservation groups warn the reflected light could cause rapid eye injury for people using telescopes, saturate astronomical detectors, disrupt nocturnal wildlife and create glare hazards for aircraft, while Reflect Orbital says the test will measure and limit brightness.
- There is no timetable for the full FCC to rule on the Application for Review, and opponents say a review is needed now to prevent a regulatory precedent for larger planned deployments.