美国创业公司Reflect Orbital计划部署大规模太空镜卫星系统，通过反射太阳光至地球来延长日光时间，但这一项目正面临天文学界的强烈反对。1该公司计划今年晚些时候发射测试卫星Eärendil-1，配备18×18米镜面，最终目标是部署多达50,000颗54×54米的卫星。1
研究表明，这些卫星带来的光污染将远超预期范围。1单颗卫星在目标区域内的亮度约为满月的40倍，即使在距离中心14公里处仍与满月一样明亮。1更令人担忧的是，400颗卫星的联合光束在5公里范围内的亮度相当于10,000个满月，或太阳亮度的2.4%，且这束光在距离80公里外仍可见为地平线上的"光晕"。1天文学家Olivier Hainaut之前的模型计算表明，光束会使全球夜空亮度增加达300%。1
项目已于7月获得美国联邦通信委员会（FCC）批准，但反对声浪不断。18月，包括DarkSky International在内的组织敦促FCC重新审查这一批准决定。1Reflect Orbital首席执行官Ben Nowack表示公司的假设是准确的，并称已与科学家进行了实质性沟通。1然而，研究人员Miroslav Kocifaj指出，Reflect Orbital未提供具体数据支持其安全防护措施的声称。1
Reflect Orbital, a U.S. startup, plans to deploy large-scale orbital mirror satellites designed to reflect sunlight to Earth and extend daylight hours.1 The company received approval from the Federal Communications Commission in July to proceed with the initiative.1 However, a new study warns that the light scattering from these satellites could cause severe pollution of the night sky far beyond the intended coverage area, triggering strong opposition from astronomers and environmental organizations.1
The company intends to launch a test satellite called Eärendil-1 later this year, equipped with an 18-by-18-meter mirror.1 The ultimate deployment plan envisions as many as 50,000 satellites, each featuring a 54-by-54-meter mirror.1 According to research findings, a single satellite would produce brightness in the target area approximately 40 times that of a full moon, remaining as bright as a full moon even at a distance of 14 kilometers from the beam's center.1 When 400 satellites operate their combined beam, the brightness across a 5-kilometer range would equal that of 10,000 full moons, or 2.4 percent of the sun's brightness, and the beam would remain visible as a luminous glow along the horizon up to 80 kilometers away.1 Earlier modeling by Olivier Hainaut indicated that the beams could increase global night sky brightness by as much as 300 percent.1
In August, organizations including DarkSky International urged the FCC to reconsider its approval decision.1 Reflect Orbital CEO Ben Nowack has stated that the company's assumptions are accurate and claimed substantial communication with scientists has taken place.1 However, researcher Miroslav Kocifaj has pointed out that Reflect Orbital has not provided specific data to support its claims regarding safety measures.1
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