China Lake Mountain Rescue Group operations leader Phillip Cash said a California spotlight drill by Reflect Orbital Inc. offered limited help finding people as the company pursues orbital lighting for rescuers.
DarkSky International reported that Reflect Orbital placed two ground spotlights along Horseshoe Meadows Road above Lone Pine on Oct. 10. China Lake Mountain Rescue Group and Inyo County Search and Rescue practiced in darkness and under the beams. The exercise did not use sunlight reflected from orbit.
Cash told DarkSky International that the lights helped crews move across rough terrain but caused glare. He assessed the improvement in finding people as marginal. Searchers used glossy white boxes as targets, which Cash said were poor substitutes for clothed people. The drill therefore did not establish how an orbital mirror would perform during a rescue.
Reflect Orbital proposes selling redirected sunlight after local sunset for uses including search and rescue, disaster response and solar generation. Its website sets a goal of more than 50,000 satellites by 2035. Cash said the price under discussion could exceed most rescue teams’ budgets, though he saw greater potential for added light during large disasters. He cited the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes as an example.
The Space Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized one demonstration satellite, Earendil-1, on July 9, 2026. Reflect Orbital’s technical filing describes a square reflector measuring 18 meters by 18 meters and a planned operating altitude of 625 kilometers, plus or minus 25 kilometers. The authorization does not cover the company’s proposed fleet.
The American Astronomical Society says the proposed beam would be about 5 kilometers wide. The society has warned that glare and unwanted light could affect astronomers, drivers and people near an illuminated area. Reflect Orbital says it would avoid sensitive sites and seek local authorities’ approval before illuminating an area.
Four groups, including DarkSky International, asked the full FCC on Aug. 6 to reverse the Space Bureau’s decision and conduct further review. Earthjustice represents the groups. DarkSky says the commission has set no timetable for a ruling.
Reflect Orbital’s published plan listed a 2026 demonstration. A company spokesperson later told the San Francisco Chronicle that it expected to launch in 2027.
