this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2026
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[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The company has also argued that reflected sunlight could provide temporary lighting without diesel generators or permanent ground infrastructure.

Sure it just requires that you build a giant precision mirror array, launch it into orbit, and then constantly monitor and position it from the ground, but god damn if you won't need a bulky, polluting flashlight ever again.

What an absolute fucking joke of a proposal. Yeah, let's blanket the earth in mirrors so that we can light up some random construction site temporarily.

[–] friend_of_satan@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

heaven forbid you need to illuminate two completely different areas of earth simultaneously. is this is the least cost efficient solar powered device ever?

[–] Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Oh, no, don't worry about that, this is just a test to see if it works... They plan to put 50,000 of these things in orbit.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Aren't they worried that the bazillion of SpaceX satellites will cast shadows on their light beams?

[–] Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't think they are that worried, since their plan is basically just to use pseudo-science magic words to remove money from investors.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Oh, right. That's fine then.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Well, it's true that if you need to illuminate a site for two and a half minutes but can't build anything on the ground, it's a ~~great~~ solution. Is it the best solution? Maybe not. Is it a solution? You bet it is.

[–] zqps@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

We have portable energy sources. They're pretty efficient. Especially comparable to an orbital launch.