[Image above] Rendering of a satellite under sunlight. Some next-generation satellites are being intentionally designed to reflect sunlight, which could have big ramifications on astronomy. Credit: 3Dsculptor / Shutterstock
I often wish that flying cars existed so I could escape all the clogged streets during rush hour. But I also know that if everyone had the same idea, we would quickly clog up the air space as well, likely making traffic an even bigger headache than before.
Even though many people would agree with this sentiment regarding flying cars, its parallels to satellites in low-Earth orbit have unfortunately been largely ignored. When governments first started launching satellites and probes in the 1950s, space seemed like an endless, empty void prime for development. But with private companies now also launching vehicles for personal gain, low-Earth orbit has become one of the world’s most heavily trafficked and cluttered environments.
Concerns about this congestion started catching public attention in 2019, when SpaceX launched the first 60 of its planned 42,000-satellite constellation. Since then, more companies have jumped on the private space train, and there are now about 16,000 active satellites currently orbiting Earth. However, the total number of trackable artificial objects, including defunct satellites and larger debris fragments, exceeds 45,000—more than double the approximately 23,000 trackable objects prior to 2020.
We are now grappling with the realization that the seemingly endless void of space does have a limit, one which may be shrinking due to changes in the Earth’s atmosphere. As a result, more companies are adopting “design for demise” protocols to reduce the amount of debris left floating in space. However, astronomers may soon be dealing with another challenge to their nightly observations: satellites purposefully designed to reflect light.
Until now, satellites have mainly obstructed astronomical observations through incidental reflections, or the unintentional bouncing of sunlight off their surfaces. Some companies have taken measures to reduce reflection, but others are going in the opposite direction by creating satellites intentionally designed to reflect light.
Reflect Orbital is a California-based aerospace company that designs light-reflecting satellites to reportedly provide customers with light at any time. This light could be used to extend working hours on industrial sites, to aid with search-and-rescue missions, or to expand solar energy generation potential, according to the company’s website.
In early July 2026, the Federal Communications Commission approved Reflect Orbital’s satellite license, meaning the company has secured the necessary radio spectrum license to launch its test satellite. Notably, this license only clears communications and telemetry for the one test, not the company’s long-term vision of a 50,000-satellite constellation.
Before the license was granted, the American Astronomical Society filed a petition to deny it on the grounds that the intentional light-reflecting design has the “potential for catastrophic interference with federally funded astronomical research.” However, the FCC stated in its approval that “concerns about Earendil-1’s impacts on optical astronomy fall outside our review and authorization of the space station and are not a basis for denial of or additional conditions on Reflect Orbital’s operations.”
In a press release following the decision, AAS argues that this reasoning “implies that the Commission would also have no ability to consider the severe implications of a constellation of 50,000 solar reflectors like that envisioned by Reflect Orbital.” But while FCC is taking a back seat in this situation, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce is working on a voluntary certification process that would authorize novel space activities outside the regulatory authority of other agencies.
For its part, Reflect Orbital says in a press release that it is “committed to seeking out engagement and dialogue” with the astronomy community to conduct its operations “in a way that preserves the night sky.” These measures will include establishing exclusion zones to protect optical astronomical research sites and sharing satellite positions in advance so researchers can plan around the windows of operation.
The FCC license also includes a nonformal commitment to coordinate with NASA and the National Science Foundation to protect optical astronomy. However, as the AAS pointed out in their press release, previous licenses for other satellite operators have required a formal coordination agreement.
As we move into this next stage of satellite design and application, astronomers will need to remain engaged on the ground so their eyes can continue seeing the skies with clarity.
