A California-based startup wants to make sunlight available even after sunset, and an Indian aerospace company is set to play a role in testing the idea. Reflect Orbital has entered into an agreement with Skyroot Aerospace for two rocket launches as it works towards a mission planned for the second quarter of 2027.
Imagine putting massive mirrors in space to catch sunlight and beam it down to specific spots on Earth after sunset. That’s the idea behind Reflect Orbital, a company looking to sell sunlight on demand whenever natural daylight runs out.
One big application for this is renewable energy. By shining extra sunlight onto solar farms after dark, they hope to stretch out the hours these facilities can generate electricity.
Beyond power grids, the company envisions using orbital light for emergency response, like lighting up disaster zones to help search-and-rescue teams work through the night.
The agreement with Skyroot Aerospace gives the Indian company a role in the testing phase of the project. Two rocket launches are planned under the arrangement, although the technology’s effectiveness on a commercial scale remains to be demonstrated.
Targeted for launch between April and June 2027, the mission marks a major step forward for Reflect Orbital’s ambitious solar service, though it’s not without pushback.
However, Astronomers have raised serious concerns about how beaming sunlight from space could disrupt night skies and interfere with critical research.
While Reflect Orbital is promoting the possible benefits for renewable energy and emergency response, critics have questioned whether introducing artificial illumination from orbit could create problems that outweigh those advantages.
For now, the project remains an ambitious proposal rather than an established commercial service. Its success will depend on whether the planned technology can deliver useful illumination from space while addressing the concerns surrounding its deployment.
The partnership with Skyroot Aerospace brings an Indian launch provider into a project that could explore an unconventional use of space infrastructure: supplying sunlight to Earth after nightfall.
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