美国初创企业Reflect Orbital正推进一项计划，即在近地轨道部署巨大镜子以反射阳光为地面提供夜间照明服务。1该公司已与印度火箭公司Skyroot Aerospace签署协议，安排两次专门火箭发射任务，使用Vikram-1火箭和在开发中的Vikram-1U火箭。1首个轨道演示器Eärendil-1将搭载18×18米反射器。1
然而这一计划面临重大的光学和监管挑战。1对54米镜子模型的研究表明，距离反射点14公里处的天空亮度可能超过满月，即便在34公里外仍可能明显超过满月，这反映出大气散射意味着反射光的影响范围远大于目标区域。1美国联邦通信委员会(FCC)在2024年7月授权部署Eärendil-1，但该授权仅涵盖无线电通信，不包括光学效应。1天文学家曾要求FCC施加保护措施，但FCC以天文学不在其规则范围内而拒绝了这一请求。1美国天文学会等组织已对FCC的决定提出质疑。1
在印度方面，国家空间促进和授权中心(IN-SPACe)的规则要求限制负面环保影响，但目前尚无公开授权显示如何处理故意反射光的问题。1这引发了关于谁有权决定空间反射光是否以及如何照射特定地区的重要监管问题。1
Reflect Orbital, a U.S. startup, intends to deploy giant mirrors in near-Earth orbit to reflect sunlight and provide nighttime illumination services to ground locations 1. The company has signed an agreement with Indian rocket company Skyroot Aerospace to arrange two dedicated rocket launches using the Vikram-1 and the under-development Vikram-1U rockets 1. The first orbital demonstrator, Eärendil-1, will carry an 18-by-18-meter reflector 1.
However, the technology raises significant regulatory questions about who has authority over reflected light affecting regions beyond the intended target area. Modeling of a 54-meter mirror design indicates that sky brightness 14 kilometers from the reflection point could exceed that of a full moon, with measurable exceedance still occurring 34 kilometers away 1. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission authorized deployment of Eärendil-1 in July 2024, but the approval covered only radio communications and did not address optical effects 1. When astronomers requested that the FCC impose protective measures, the agency declined, stating that astronomy fell outside its regulatory scope 1. Organizations including the American Astronomical Society have since challenged the FCC's decision 1.
In India, the National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre's regulations require limiting negative environmental impacts, yet no publicly available authorization demonstrates how the agency would address intentional light reflection 1.
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