this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2025
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California-based startup Reflect Orbital aims to build a swarm of 4,000 giant mirrors in low Earth orbit to "sell sunlight" to customers at night. Experts warn that the mirrors could mess with telescopes, blind stargazers and impact the environment.

Reflect Orbital, which was founded in 2021, has recently taken the first step in a scheme to sell sunlight at night by bouncing solar rays off giant "reflectors" that can redirect the vital resource almost anywhere on our planet. By doing this, the company aims to extend daylight hours in specific locations, thus allowing paying customers to generate solar power, grow crops and replace urban lighting.

But experts say it is a wildly impractical plan that should never get off the ground. What's more, the resulting light pollution could devastate ground-based astronomy, distract aircraft pilots and even blind stargazers.

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[–] vivendi@programming.dev 27 points 3 days ago (2 children)

This is literally, actually a bond villain plot

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[–] Jumpropegazing@lemmy.zip 19 points 3 days ago (2 children)

this is one of the worst ideas that has ever come from capitalism dawg what the fuck who even thinks of this what rich fuck is gonna be paying to make it daytime at night....

its not just impractical, it is just entirely pointless and we already have way too much space pollution because of fuckin starlink

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[–] Naevermix@lemmy.world 48 points 4 days ago (2 children)

This is obviously a scam directed at venture capitalists. There's no way this is going to happen.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 20 points 4 days ago

Okay, but can we execute these people for putting this concept into the world anyway?

[–] minkymunkey_7_7@lemmy.world 13 points 4 days ago

Suncoin for sale.

[–] axx@slrpnk.net 59 points 4 days ago (2 children)

The future we hoped for: Dyson sphere, free unlimited energy

The future silicon valley shitlords are hoping for: let us sell you sunlight (or maybe lack thereof, wink wink)

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[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 190 points 5 days ago (14 children)

In addition to being a moronic idea, this is also physically infeasible as I outlined in excruciating detail in my comment the last time this came up. The takeaway is that this is an investor scam for sure, and the side effects outlined in this article are just a fun (!) and exciting (!) sideshow if these bozos actually do mange to get a single mirror off the ground and deployed. Which they probably won't.

[–] JoshuaFalken@lemmy.world 66 points 5 days ago (4 children)

I disagree they are bozos. I'm actually coming around on the idea. Not the mirror thing of course, but the VC grift using a flashy idea. Millions of dollars and the only thing you make is a slideshow? Brilliant.

[–] SaraTonin@lemmy.world 56 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It’s tricky business. The idea has to be plausible enough to attract investors, but implausible enough not to get looked at too closely by clever investors. Similarly, you have to drum up enough publicity to get interest, but not enough to get scrutiny.

Get the balance wrong and you get Theranos.

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[–] aReallyCrunchyLeaf@lemmy.ml 34 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Capitalism will steal the very foundations of life and sell it to you to make a buck. They will siphon the life force from the earth in order to benefit themselves. I honestly try and look at things dispassionately and put it all in perspective but DAM it's hard not to be emotional when you see what these fucking stinking pigs are up to on their mountain.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 107 points 5 days ago

"We're a startup"

"What's your plan?"

"Giant mirrors in space to control the sunlight that hits the earth's surface."

"Wow, sounds incredibly expensive and of dubious technical merit. What are you asking to make this happen?"

"We need whatever money you have in your wallet right now."

"And the return on investment?"

"Infinity zillion dollars."

"I guess I'd be a fool not to hand you all my money."

"Absolutely. Now... that's a really nice watch. And shoes. We could get you an amazing return if you gave us those, too."

[–] slaacaa@lemmy.world 36 points 4 days ago
[–] NewSocialWhoDis@lemmy.zip 14 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Reminds me of this other terrible dystopian idea I saw the other day: https://nz.news.yahoo.com/elon-musk-announces-plan-control-182840080.html

Glad billionaires think they can steal the sun and sell it back to us now.

[–] loldog191@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 days ago

Less Sun = Less Plants = Less Carbon Sink = 🤦

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 17 points 4 days ago

Don't worry, this type of Space Nuttery is merely a way to extract money from even dumber billionaires.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaren

None of the Space Nuttery fantasies will ever happen.

[–] kerrigan778@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 4 days ago

So many companies and environmental damage just to get investors to dump money into terrible ideas.

[–] krooklochurm@lemmy.ca 36 points 4 days ago (1 children)

If I was going to build death ray mirrors in space this is how I would pitch it.

Tf are people gonna do once you've built the death ray?

It's not about selling sunshine, it's about melting your enemies with the power of the sun.

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[–] Surp@lemmy.world 31 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Rich people should not have the choice to have fucking sunlight in the middle of the night.

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[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 79 points 5 days ago (3 children)
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[–] _lilith@lemmy.world 58 points 5 days ago (7 children)

Joking aside this is a horrible idea even if it were possible to get right. Anything with circadian rhythm is going to get fucked up real fast and that includes people. This is like angry mob outside the corporate office level bad. Torches and pitchforks, the whole thing

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[–] philycheeze@sh.itjust.works 69 points 5 days ago (3 children)

You don’t even have to be an expert to see that this is one of the stupidest ideas ever conceived.

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[–] dalekcaan@feddit.nl 64 points 5 days ago (2 children)
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[–] Harbinger01173430@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (2 children)

What about making our own startup that will make sure to destroy those orbital glasses?

Surface to space missiles seem to be a profitable entreprise

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[–] FireWire400@lemmy.world 40 points 5 days ago (3 children)

It's nice how, in theory, some crackhead silicon valley startup would be allowed to single handedly fuck up just about everything

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[–] JensSpahnpasta@feddit.org 2 points 2 days ago

Let's be honest: This is military technology camouflaging itself as civilian tech. It totally doesn't make any sense for the proposed uses, but it totally is worthwhile for military purposes. Jihadist sneaking up onto your base in Bagdadh in the night? Light up the sky! Russian drone attack when it's dark? Light up the sky! That border to north korea? Eternal sunshine! Your B2 and B52 bombers are on the way? Confuse your enemy by switching the sun on and off! Protect your convois by always have them drive in the night!

[–] Olhonestjim@lemmy.world 17 points 4 days ago (2 children)

This exact same technology naturally allows capitalists to force everyone to pay not to have their sunlight blocked during the day.

I mean, the technology certainly has benefits, not in reflecting sunlight onto the dark side of the Earth. Nobody fucking needs that. Instead it should be used to shade a few percent of sunlight in order to control Earth's warming climate.

But rich people gotta fuck things up. No single entity must ever be allowed to control orbital megastructures.

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[–] abbiistabbii@lemmy.blahaj.zone 16 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Isn't this basically the plot of "who shot Mr Burns?"

[–] tooclose104@lemmy.ca 8 points 4 days ago (5 children)

It's the opposite of that plot. In that episode, Mr Burns blocks out the sun in order to force everyone to use more electricity to increase revenue for his nuclear power plant.

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[–] kazerniel@lemmy.world 28 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Capitalism is at it again 🤦 What are they selling next? Air?

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 14 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Are we talking Spaceballs or Total Recall?

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[–] rob_t_firefly@lemmy.world 22 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Last time some rich fuck started screwing with people's access to natural sunlight cycles, it didn't end well for him.

Two screenshots from the "Who Shot Mr. Burns" episode of "The Simpsons" showing Mr. Burns with a gunshot wound, and then collapsing onto a sundial.

[–] Korkki@lemmy.ml 46 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (3 children)

All of these wacky silicon valley startups popping up just shriek very loudly that there is too much capital and not enough real economy to invest all that money into.

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[–] VinnyDaCat@lemmy.world 11 points 4 days ago

Thought I was in the boring dystopia community instead. I suppose I'll just continue to hope that this is too impractical to happen or that those responsible aren't competent enough to make it happen.

[–] lightsblinken@lemmy.world 20 points 4 days ago

please stop fucking with the delicate balance of nature, its the only nature i've found that works for me

[–] Quexotic@infosec.pub 18 points 4 days ago (10 children)

Yes. Let's make the planet even hotter... Fucking morons.

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[–] ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 20 points 4 days ago (4 children)

New startup idea: iAir. Pay a certain amount of subscription for air, or we will choke you to death!

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[–] fissionmailed@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

Maggie Simpson will sort them out.

[–] ILoveDurians@lemmy.cafe 15 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Does anyone else remember the scene in the movie called "The Core" where a giant beam of light started frying people and melting bridges?

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[–] Nomorereddit@lemmy.today 11 points 4 days ago

What experts? Give me my Dyson spehere!

[–] thenose@lemmy.world 27 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Why is this not an Onion piece????

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[–] KulunkelBoom@lemmus.org 3 points 3 days ago

Why put mirrors in space when you can SELL SHARES in building mirrors in space to redirect sunlight.

Worth trillions, don't you think? Not the end product - just the design and endless alpha model.

Shit... you think the F-35 was a complete boondoggle(*1), you ain't seen shit. Space is BIG. Price tags $,,$,,$,,$,,$


(*1) and it remains so to this very day

[–] iAvicenna@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago (1 children)

this startup's CEO and finding members should be trialed for crimes against humanity

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[–] baronvonj@lemmy.world 28 points 5 days ago

See my vest! See my vest! It's authentic gorilla chest!

[–] xxce2AAb@feddit.dk 26 points 5 days ago (1 children)

"We also plan on patenting atmospheric air and granting reasonably priced usage licenses for limited daily volumes to every man, woman and child on the planet. It'll be great!"

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[–] drascus@sh.itjust.works 11 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I just imagine the first places that put in in-door lightnig like "here now you can work later in the day" now they will be like "Oh look you can work 24/7 now it's never dark anymore".

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