Start-up planning glitzy constellation of more than 4,000 satellites despite concerns from astronomers and animal lovers View Image Lighting up the night

A US start-up wants to turn twilight into prime time - by bouncing sunlight back to Earth from orbit. ‌

California-based Reflect Orbital has applied to launch a demo satellite that unfurls a gigantic mirror - roughly 18 metres by 18 metres - as the first step toward a glitzy constellation of more than 4,000 reflectors designed to bathe targeted patches of our planet in light after sunset. ‌

The company pitches it as a sci‑fi fix for real‑world woes: topping up solar panels at night, helping crops grow stronger, replacing streetlights, and lighting up disaster zones on demand. ‌

It has already landed a $1.25million US Air

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