Prof. Sam Lawler1d ago

FCC reply comments are due by 5pm EDT Monday 30 March on Reflect Orbital. If you wrote in a comment, please please please write in again saying that they did not address your concerns in their letter (which is very hard to find in the FCC dumpster-fire-of-a-website). Instructions here: https://aas.org/posts/advocacy/2026/02/how-submit-comments-satellite-applications-fcc

The most horrifying part in their "consolidated reply": they agree that they could in fact cause permanent eye damage to people using medium-sized telescopes. WILD.

Show threadMichael McWilliams1d ago
@sundogplanets
IMO, Reflect Orbital is a total scam. Their business model has been debunked in a video. The video didn't even touch on the number of days there will be clouds that will fully prevent any solar panels getting extra light. I think that they are only doing this to steal venture capitalists' money.
Show threadProf. Sam Lawler1d ago
@MichaelMcWilliams I totally agree with you! But it's a scam that is going to cause real people and real ecosystems (and astronomy!) measurable harm so I am fighting it as hard as I can.
Show threadMichael McWilliams
@sundogplanets
Here's the debunk video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkjyeI0ykGM
EEVblog 1637: Solar Freakin' Space Mirrors! - Reflect Orbital DEBUNKED

YouTube
Mar 29 at 2:30amWeb
Show threadProf. Sam Lawler1d ago
@MichaelMcWilliams I LOVE this video!
Show threadAedan Cullen4h ago
@sundogplanets @MichaelMcWilliams I still don't understand how people invest in these sorts of obviously-impractical things. It does seem like the real "profit" going on here is the founders deceiving investors for their own gain. Or the investors hoping to eventually sell the company to another sucker, with no care about who they hurt in the process. It is very sad to see that this whole dishonest-startup machinery somehow exists, when there are so many more worthwhile things to put resources toward in this world.