Since I wrote an article about astronomers voicing concerns about the planned launches of 1.7M new satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO)—from the U.S. alone—last week (see www.laserfocusworld.com/55389109), the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Reflect Orbital’s application to construct, launch, and operate one non-geostationary orbit satellite for two years.

It’s worth taking a moment to read what Olivier Hainaut, an astronomer at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) for more than 30 years, has to say about the potential impact of sending large mirrors (18 m × 18 m) intended to reflect light back to Earth “on demand” into LEO. Reflect Orbital’s goal is to launch and operate 50,000 of these superbright satellites. It’s astounding to read the FCC response here (particularly the last bit directed at the American Astronomical Society): https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-706A1.pdf. If it’s "beyond the FCC’s authority" to take things like impacts of giant mirrors in space on every person on this planet’s right to a dark night sky, the FCC shouldn’t have the authority to approve projects like this.

Sally Cole Johnson, Editor in Chief
Laser Focus World