AIBS joined the American Astronomical Society and 26 other science organizations in submitting comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Reflect Orbital’s proposal to launch mirrors into space to sell sunlight at night. The comments highlight the potential for the proposal to significantly harm scientific research, human health, and entire ecosystems.
The proposed service, which would illuminate a region of at least 5 kilometers in diameter from a single beam, represents an unprecedented intervention into the natural night sky that could have far-reaching and irreversible consequences for biological life.
The comments assert that “darkness at night is not a problem that needs to be solved,” noting instead that it is “how our natural world functions, and we and other living beings rely on access to darkness to maintain circadian rhythms.” Disruption of these rhythms can lead to severe health consequences in humans and animals, including altered metabolism, impaired hormone production, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, the introduction of high-intensity artificial light at landscape scales threatens to destabilize ecological systems. Migratory animals and those that navigate using darkness, such as many bird species, face significant risks of disorientation or entrapment.
The signatories argue that this proposal does not serve the public interest and insist that the FCC “deny the application, or at least require a thorough environmental impact assessment before any license is granted”
Stay current on the latest science policy news. Subscribe to our bi-weekly AIBS Public Policy Report.