Environmental groups petition FCC to reverse Reflect Orbital OK

DarkSky International, Environment America, the American Bird Conservancy and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility filed a petition on August 6 asking the FCC to reverse its approval of Reflect Orbital's Earendil-1 demonstration satellite, which would carry a 59-foot-wide mirror to reflect sunlight onto specific spots on Earth during darkness. The groups argue the FCC limited its review to radiofrequency spectrum and ignored potential harm to nocturnal wildlife, astronomy and eye safety, and warned the single approved test mission could pave the way for a much larger constellation.