A mirror in space to turn night into day? Hyderabad-based Skyroot deal brings sci-fi closer to reality

Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace has signed a two-launch contract with US startup Reflect Orbital to deploy orbital mirrors designed to reflect sunlight onto Earth at night. The proposed technology could support rescue operations and extend sunlight availability for solar farms.

Hyderabad: Imagine a giant mirror floating in space, catching the Sun’s rays and redirecting them towards Earth long after sunset. It sounds like a scene from a science-fiction film, but a California-based startup wants to turn this idea into reality, and Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace is set to play a vital part in the plan.

Skyroot has signed a contract with US space technology startup Reflect Orbital for two launches to deploy orbital mirrors designed to reflect sunlight onto Earth at night. The concept aims to bring sunlight to selected areas after dark, potentially changing how certain activities are carried out during nighttime.

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Instead of generating light on Earth using conventional power sources, Reflect Orbital plans to harness sunlight in space and redirect it towards specific locations. The company envisions adjustable illumination over an area spanning about five kilometres.

The potential applications range from supporting search and rescue operations in disaster-hit areas to extending the hours of sunlight available to solar farms.

According to reports, the first launch is expected to use Skyroot’s Vikram-1 rocket, while the second is planned aboard the Vikram-1U launch vehicle, which is under development.

Reflect Orbital received approval from the US Federal Communications Commission in July to construct, launch and operate a demonstration satellite.

While the prospect of reflecting sunlight onto Earth at night evokes images of futuristic cities and science-fiction films, the technology also raises questions about its effects on the night sky, astronomy, wildlife and people living beneath the illuminated areas.

For now, the idea remains an emerging technology rather than an established alternative to conventional lighting. But if successful, it could offer a striking new way to think about the boundary between day and night.