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SpaceX to Fly Italian Science Experiments to Mars on Starship in 2026

SpaceX to Fly Italian Science Experiments to Mars on Starship in 2026

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SpaceX has signed a first-of-its-kind deal with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to fly Italian science experiments to Mars aboard its Starship rocket. ASI President Teodoro Valente announced that ASI will send its experiments on SpaceX’s first commercial Mars flights. The payloads will include a plant-growth module, a meteorology station and a radiation detector, which will collect data during the roughly six-month journey and on the Martian surface. This landmark agreement represents a new milestone in Mars exploration.

Italian Scientific Experiments on Starship

According to the ASI officials, the payloads include “a plant growth experiment, a meteorological monitoring station and a radiation sensor”. The plant experiment is designed to test how plants grow during the months-long trip and under Mars-like conditions, which will inform future life-support systems. The meteorological module will record Martian weather (temperature, pressure, etc.) to improve understanding of Mars’s climate. The radiation sensor will measure cosmic rays and solar particles during the flight and on Mars’ surface, providing data essential for assessing astronaut safety.

Mission Timeline and Commercial Partnership Implications

Starship has completed only suborbital test flights (nine as of mid-2025) and has not yet reached orbit. SpaceX is targeting the Nov–Dec 2026 Mars launch window, but CEO Elon Musk cautions that “a lot needs to go right” and success is far from guaranteed. Starship itself is a massive two-stage fully reusable rocket built specifically for Mars missions. Meeting these targets depends on completing Starship’s development and test flights.

For SpaceX, the contract turns Starship into a Mars transportation service. The deal lets Italy send experiments to Mars without developing its own rocket. More broadly, it exemplifies a new era in which countries and organizations can purchase payload flights on commercial rockets, benefiting future Mars research.

 

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The end of the biggest World Cup ever is almost here. Following 100 matches, there are just four teams left and four more games to play.

The tournament has been hosted by three countries: Mexico, Canada, and the US. All of those host countries are now out of the running. The final teams are France, Spain, England, and Argentina. Those teams will play two more semifinal games, another game to determine who gets third place and a final match to end it all.

Going into this year’s World Cup, FIFA anticipated that it would be the most watched tournament in the organization’s history. As the tournament moved into the quarterfinals earlier this month, FIFA noted that more than more than 6.2 million people had attended matches in person, “while millions more follow the action across digital platforms, broadcast, and fan experiences in host cities and around the world.”

You can find the full schedule, which defaults to your local time zone, on the FIFA website.

Here’s how to watch the final games.

Semifinals

France vs. Spain, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas — 3 pm ET on Tuesday July 14

England vs. Argentina, at Atlanta Stadium — 3 pm ET on Wednesday July 15

Third Place Playoff

The two losing teams of the semifinal matches will face off for the title of third place at 5 pm ET on Saturday, July 18, in the Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Final

The World Cup final game is at 3 pm ET on Sunday, July 19, in the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

The game will also feature the first-ever Super Bowl–style halftime show in World Cup history, with performances from Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Gustavo Dudamel. As the name implies, that will likely land right in the middle of the broadcast, so aim to watch somewhere around 4 pm ET on July 19.

Where to Stream

If you have satellite TV or cable service, you can watch the final kickoffs live on TV via Fox Sports in the US. The games are also available on the FoxOne streaming service for $20 per month.

FIFA has partnered with YouTube as its “preferred partner” for streaming the games. You’ll need YouTube TV’s sports plan, which is currently $55 per month. Other paid options include Fubo ($46 per month) and Hulu’s live sports option ($90 per month).

In partnership with Telemundo, Peacock is streaming all of the games in Spanish. You can find all the official broadcasters on the FIFA website.

New Competition

This World Cup has been huge, competition-wise, as it is the first to include 48 teams in the tournament instead of the 32 for past World Cups. Given the increased number of teams, the structure for how the competition played out was different from past World Cups. Countries were first sorted into groups (labeled with letters A–L) and played out games in the First Stage within those groups.

Winners of those matches went on to duke it out in the stage called the Round of 32, then got whittled down in a Round of 16. After that, the winners moved on to the quarterfinals, which wrapped up last weekend.

#Watch #World #Cup #Semifinals #Finalssports,football,how-to,world cup 2026,soccer">How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Semifinals and FinalsThe end of the biggest World Cup ever is almost here. Following 100 matches, there are just four teams left and four more games to play.The tournament has been hosted by three countries: Mexico, Canada, and the US. All of those host countries are now out of the running. The final teams are France, Spain, England, and Argentina. Those teams will play two more semifinal games, another game to determine who gets third place and a final match to end it all.Going into this year’s World Cup, FIFA anticipated that it would be the most watched tournament in the organization’s history. As the tournament moved into the quarterfinals earlier this month, FIFA noted that more than more than 6.2 million people had attended matches in person, “while millions more follow the action across digital platforms, broadcast, and fan experiences in host cities and around the world.”You can find the full schedule, which defaults to your local time zone, on the FIFA website.Here’s how to watch the final games.SemifinalsFrance vs. Spain, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas — 3 pm ET on Tuesday July 14England vs. Argentina, at Atlanta Stadium — 3 pm ET on Wednesday July 15Third Place PlayoffThe two losing teams of the semifinal matches will face off for the title of third place at 5 pm ET on Saturday, July 18, in the Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida.FinalThe World Cup final game is at 3 pm ET on Sunday, July 19, in the New York/New Jersey Stadium.The game will also feature the first-ever Super Bowl–style halftime show in World Cup history, with performances from Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Gustavo Dudamel. As the name implies, that will likely land right in the middle of the broadcast, so aim to watch somewhere around 4 pm ET on July 19.Where to StreamIf you have satellite TV or cable service, you can watch the final kickoffs live on TV via Fox Sports in the US. The games are also available on the FoxOne streaming service for per month.FIFA has partnered with YouTube as its “preferred partner” for streaming the games. You’ll need YouTube TV’s sports plan, which is currently per month. Other paid options include Fubo ( per month) and Hulu’s live sports option ( per month).In partnership with Telemundo, Peacock is streaming all of the games in Spanish. You can find all the official broadcasters on the FIFA website.New CompetitionThis World Cup has been huge, competition-wise, as it is the first to include 48 teams in the tournament instead of the 32 for past World Cups. Given the increased number of teams, the structure for how the competition played out was different from past World Cups. Countries were first sorted into groups (labeled with letters A–L) and played out games in the First Stage within those groups.Winners of those matches went on to duke it out in the stage called the Round of 32, then got whittled down in a Round of 16. After that, the winners moved on to the quarterfinals, which wrapped up last weekend.#Watch #World #Cup #Semifinals #Finalssports,football,how-to,world cup 2026,soccer

World Cup ever is almost here. Following 100 matches, there are just four teams left and four more games to play.

The tournament has been hosted by three countries: Mexico, Canada, and the US. All of those host countries are now out of the running. The final teams are France, Spain, England, and Argentina. Those teams will play two more semifinal games, another game to determine who gets third place and a final match to end it all.

Going into this year’s World Cup, FIFA anticipated that it would be the most watched tournament in the organization’s history. As the tournament moved into the quarterfinals earlier this month, FIFA noted that more than more than 6.2 million people had attended matches in person, “while millions more follow the action across digital platforms, broadcast, and fan experiences in host cities and around the world.”

You can find the full schedule, which defaults to your local time zone, on the FIFA website.

Here’s how to watch the final games.

Semifinals

France vs. Spain, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas — 3 pm ET on Tuesday July 14

England vs. Argentina, at Atlanta Stadium — 3 pm ET on Wednesday July 15

Third Place Playoff

The two losing teams of the semifinal matches will face off for the title of third place at 5 pm ET on Saturday, July 18, in the Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Final

The World Cup final game is at 3 pm ET on Sunday, July 19, in the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

The game will also feature the first-ever Super Bowl–style halftime show in World Cup history, with performances from Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Gustavo Dudamel. As the name implies, that will likely land right in the middle of the broadcast, so aim to watch somewhere around 4 pm ET on July 19.

Where to Stream

If you have satellite TV or cable service, you can watch the final kickoffs live on TV via Fox Sports in the US. The games are also available on the FoxOne streaming service for $20 per month.

FIFA has partnered with YouTube as its “preferred partner” for streaming the games. You’ll need YouTube TV’s sports plan, which is currently $55 per month. Other paid options include Fubo ($46 per month) and Hulu’s live sports option ($90 per month).

In partnership with Telemundo, Peacock is streaming all of the games in Spanish. You can find all the official broadcasters on the FIFA website.

New Competition

This World Cup has been huge, competition-wise, as it is the first to include 48 teams in the tournament instead of the 32 for past World Cups. Given the increased number of teams, the structure for how the competition played out was different from past World Cups. Countries were first sorted into groups (labeled with letters A–L) and played out games in the First Stage within those groups.

Winners of those matches went on to duke it out in the stage called the Round of 32, then got whittled down in a Round of 16. After that, the winners moved on to the quarterfinals, which wrapped up last weekend.

#Watch #World #Cup #Semifinals #Finalssports,football,how-to,world cup 2026,soccer">How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Semifinals and Finals

The end of the biggest World Cup ever is almost here. Following 100 matches, there are just four teams left and four more games to play.

The tournament has been hosted by three countries: Mexico, Canada, and the US. All of those host countries are now out of the running. The final teams are France, Spain, England, and Argentina. Those teams will play two more semifinal games, another game to determine who gets third place and a final match to end it all.

Going into this year’s World Cup, FIFA anticipated that it would be the most watched tournament in the organization’s history. As the tournament moved into the quarterfinals earlier this month, FIFA noted that more than more than 6.2 million people had attended matches in person, “while millions more follow the action across digital platforms, broadcast, and fan experiences in host cities and around the world.”

You can find the full schedule, which defaults to your local time zone, on the FIFA website.

Here’s how to watch the final games.

Semifinals

France vs. Spain, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas — 3 pm ET on Tuesday July 14

England vs. Argentina, at Atlanta Stadium — 3 pm ET on Wednesday July 15

Third Place Playoff

The two losing teams of the semifinal matches will face off for the title of third place at 5 pm ET on Saturday, July 18, in the Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Final

The World Cup final game is at 3 pm ET on Sunday, July 19, in the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

The game will also feature the first-ever Super Bowl–style halftime show in World Cup history, with performances from Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Gustavo Dudamel. As the name implies, that will likely land right in the middle of the broadcast, so aim to watch somewhere around 4 pm ET on July 19.

Where to Stream

If you have satellite TV or cable service, you can watch the final kickoffs live on TV via Fox Sports in the US. The games are also available on the FoxOne streaming service for $20 per month.

FIFA has partnered with YouTube as its “preferred partner” for streaming the games. You’ll need YouTube TV’s sports plan, which is currently $55 per month. Other paid options include Fubo ($46 per month) and Hulu’s live sports option ($90 per month).

In partnership with Telemundo, Peacock is streaming all of the games in Spanish. You can find all the official broadcasters on the FIFA website.

New Competition

This World Cup has been huge, competition-wise, as it is the first to include 48 teams in the tournament instead of the 32 for past World Cups. Given the increased number of teams, the structure for how the competition played out was different from past World Cups. Countries were first sorted into groups (labeled with letters A–L) and played out games in the First Stage within those groups.

Winners of those matches went on to duke it out in the stage called the Round of 32, then got whittled down in a Round of 16. After that, the winners moved on to the quarterfinals, which wrapped up last weekend.

#Watch #World #Cup #Semifinals #Finalssports,football,how-to,world cup 2026,soccer

Back-to-school shopping is already expensive, and this year, tech upgrades aren’t getting any cheaper. Between the ongoing memory crunch (aka RAMageddon), higher hardware costs, and recent Apple price hikes on some products, finding a good deal on the gadgets students need matters more than ever.

Luckily, not every back-to-school tech upgrade has to hurt. T-Mobile’s latest offers are helping students and families save on the stuff they’re most likely shopping for, from free Galaxy S26 and iPhone 17 deals to tablets and home internet.

Before you start picking your new phone color, there’s a catch worth knowing about. These T-Mobile deals do come with a few strings attached. Depending on the offer, you may need to add a new line, pick a qualifying plan, or trade in an eligible phone to get the advertised price. Some savings are also delivered through monthly bill credits.

Best phone deal for students

If you were already planning to upgrade your phone before heading back to school, this is one of T-Mobile’s biggest offers. New customers who switch their number can get a Samsung Galaxy S26 or iPhone 17 for $0 with qualifying plans, with the discount applied through 24 monthly bill credits.

You’ll need a qualifying T-Mobile plan, and depending on the offer, you may need to switch your number to get the full discount. If you cancel service before the credits finish, you’ll be responsible for the remaining device balance.

Best budget phone deal for students

Metro by T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 16e for $99.99 upfront when you bring your existing number to its $50 per month AutoPay plan. After three months of service, you’ll also get a $100 virtual prepaid Mastercard, effectively covering the phone’s cost.

The iPhone 16e is Apple’s more affordable iPhone option, giving students access to features like Apple Intelligence support, a 48-megapixel Fusion camera, and a familiar iOS experience without jumping up to the price of a flagship model.

Best tablet deal for students

A tablet can be a pretty handy school sidekick, whether you’re downloading textbooks, taking notes, or giving your laptop a break. Right now, T-Mobile is giving the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 5G (128GB) away with a new qualifying tablet line.

The catch? The $289.99 price is covered through 24 monthly bill credits, so you’ll want to stick with the plan for the full promo period to get the complete discount.

Best home internet deal for students

Moving off campus usually means adding one more thing to your budget: WiFi. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is down to $35 per month when bundled with a qualifying T-Mobile phone plan, saving you $15 per month.

New customers can also get a free month of service plus up to $200 back via virtual prepaid card, making it a great option for students moving into an apartment or anyone who wants simple setup without a long-term price surprise. Eligible plans come with a five-year price guarantee, so your monthly rate won’t change during that period (excluding certain fees and upgrades).

#TMobile #backtoschool #deals #Free #Galaxy #S26 #iPhone">Best T-Mobile back-to-school deals: Free Galaxy S26, iPhone 17, and more Back-to-school shopping is already expensive, and this year, tech upgrades aren’t getting any cheaper. Between the ongoing memory crunch (aka RAMageddon), higher hardware costs, and recent Apple price hikes on some products, finding a good deal on the gadgets students need matters more than ever. Luckily, not every back-to-school tech upgrade has to hurt. T-Mobile’s latest offers are helping students and families save on the stuff they’re most likely shopping for, from free Galaxy S26 and iPhone 17 deals to tablets and home internet.Before you start picking your new phone color, there’s a catch worth knowing about. These T-Mobile deals do come with a few strings attached. Depending on the offer, you may need to add a new line, pick a qualifying plan, or trade in an eligible phone to get the advertised price. Some savings are also delivered through monthly bill credits.Best phone deal for students If you were already planning to upgrade your phone before heading back to school, this is one of T-Mobile’s biggest offers. New customers who switch their number can get a Samsung Galaxy S26 or iPhone 17 for alt=

RAMageddon), higher hardware costs, and recent Apple price hikes on some products, finding a good deal on the gadgets students need matters more than ever.

Luckily, not every back-to-school tech upgrade has to hurt. T-Mobile’s latest offers are helping students and families save on the stuff they’re most likely shopping for, from free Galaxy S26 and iPhone 17 deals to tablets and home internet.

Before you start picking your new phone color, there’s a catch worth knowing about. These T-Mobile deals do come with a few strings attached. Depending on the offer, you may need to add a new line, pick a qualifying plan, or trade in an eligible phone to get the advertised price. Some savings are also delivered through monthly bill credits.

Best phone deal for students

If you were already planning to upgrade your phone before heading back to school, this is one of T-Mobile’s biggest offers. New customers who switch their number can get a Samsung Galaxy S26 or iPhone 17 for $0 with qualifying plans, with the discount applied through 24 monthly bill credits.

You’ll need a qualifying T-Mobile plan, and depending on the offer, you may need to switch your number to get the full discount. If you cancel service before the credits finish, you’ll be responsible for the remaining device balance.

Best budget phone deal for students

Metro by T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 16e for $99.99 upfront when you bring your existing number to its $50 per month AutoPay plan. After three months of service, you’ll also get a $100 virtual prepaid Mastercard, effectively covering the phone’s cost.

The iPhone 16e is Apple’s more affordable iPhone option, giving students access to features like Apple Intelligence support, a 48-megapixel Fusion camera, and a familiar iOS experience without jumping up to the price of a flagship model.

Best tablet deal for students

A tablet can be a pretty handy school sidekick, whether you’re downloading textbooks, taking notes, or giving your laptop a break. Right now, T-Mobile is giving the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 5G (128GB) away with a new qualifying tablet line.

The catch? The $289.99 price is covered through 24 monthly bill credits, so you’ll want to stick with the plan for the full promo period to get the complete discount.

Best home internet deal for students

Moving off campus usually means adding one more thing to your budget: WiFi. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is down to $35 per month when bundled with a qualifying T-Mobile phone plan, saving you $15 per month.

New customers can also get a free month of service plus up to $200 back via virtual prepaid card, making it a great option for students moving into an apartment or anyone who wants simple setup without a long-term price surprise. Eligible plans come with a five-year price guarantee, so your monthly rate won’t change during that period (excluding certain fees and upgrades).

#TMobile #backtoschool #deals #Free #Galaxy #S26 #iPhone">Best T-Mobile back-to-school deals: Free Galaxy S26, iPhone 17, and more

Back-to-school shopping is already expensive, and this year, tech upgrades aren’t getting any cheaper. Between the ongoing memory crunch (aka RAMageddon), higher hardware costs, and recent Apple price hikes on some products, finding a good deal on the gadgets students need matters more than ever.

Luckily, not every back-to-school tech upgrade has to hurt. T-Mobile’s latest offers are helping students and families save on the stuff they’re most likely shopping for, from free Galaxy S26 and iPhone 17 deals to tablets and home internet.

Before you start picking your new phone color, there’s a catch worth knowing about. These T-Mobile deals do come with a few strings attached. Depending on the offer, you may need to add a new line, pick a qualifying plan, or trade in an eligible phone to get the advertised price. Some savings are also delivered through monthly bill credits.

Best phone deal for students

If you were already planning to upgrade your phone before heading back to school, this is one of T-Mobile’s biggest offers. New customers who switch their number can get a Samsung Galaxy S26 or iPhone 17 for $0 with qualifying plans, with the discount applied through 24 monthly bill credits.

You’ll need a qualifying T-Mobile plan, and depending on the offer, you may need to switch your number to get the full discount. If you cancel service before the credits finish, you’ll be responsible for the remaining device balance.

Best budget phone deal for students

Metro by T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 16e for $99.99 upfront when you bring your existing number to its $50 per month AutoPay plan. After three months of service, you’ll also get a $100 virtual prepaid Mastercard, effectively covering the phone’s cost.

The iPhone 16e is Apple’s more affordable iPhone option, giving students access to features like Apple Intelligence support, a 48-megapixel Fusion camera, and a familiar iOS experience without jumping up to the price of a flagship model.

Best tablet deal for students

A tablet can be a pretty handy school sidekick, whether you’re downloading textbooks, taking notes, or giving your laptop a break. Right now, T-Mobile is giving the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 5G (128GB) away with a new qualifying tablet line.

The catch? The $289.99 price is covered through 24 monthly bill credits, so you’ll want to stick with the plan for the full promo period to get the complete discount.

Best home internet deal for students

Moving off campus usually means adding one more thing to your budget: WiFi. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is down to $35 per month when bundled with a qualifying T-Mobile phone plan, saving you $15 per month.

New customers can also get a free month of service plus up to $200 back via virtual prepaid card, making it a great option for students moving into an apartment or anyone who wants simple setup without a long-term price surprise. Eligible plans come with a five-year price guarantee, so your monthly rate won’t change during that period (excluding certain fees and upgrades).

#TMobile #backtoschool #deals #Free #Galaxy #S26 #iPhone

The satellite, named Eärendil-1 in reference to a Tolkien character, will attempt to redirect sunlight to specific areas on Earth after dark using a 59-foot (18-meter) reflective surface. If successful, Reflect Orbital plans to launch and operate a constellation of 50,000 satellites by 2035, with enough reflected light to illuminate areas up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) on the ground. The company says this technology will be available “on demand” and could be used across a variety of industries, including solar energy, agriculture, and emergency response sectors.

“Imagine the endless possibilities when sunlight is not limited by geography or time of day,” Reflect Orbital says on its website. “A search-and-rescue team locates a missing person in minutes. A city has safer, evenly-lit streets without the carbon emissions. Construction projects complete in half the time with teams able to work through the night safely.”

The growing number of satellite constellations orbiting Earth are driving concerns regarding space junk and light pollution. Reflect Orbital’s plans are already facing objections that the space mirrors could make astronomical observations more difficult. There are also concerns about how the reflected light could interfere with wildlife that depend on natural light cycles and impact the safety of aircraft pilots.

Wired reports that the FCC received nearly 2,000 public comments opposing the space mirror plans, with the American Astronomical Society, DarkSky International, and the Royal Astronomical Society among the most notable critics. “For optical astronomy, this is an existential threat, and we hope that the regulators will share that view,” Betty Kioko, institutional affairs officer for the European Southern Observatory (ESO), said to Wired, ahead of the FCC clearance.

#sunlight #reflecting #space #mirror #cleared #launchNews,Science,Space,Tech">The first sunlight reflecting space mirror has been cleared for launchReflect Orbital has been given the green light to launch its first space mirror that aims to redirect sunlight down to Earth at night. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized the California-based startup to build and operate a single prototype satellite in low-Earth orbit later this year, despite concerns over how the technology could impact optical astronomy.The satellite, named Eärendil-1 in reference to a Tolkien character, will attempt to redirect sunlight to specific areas on Earth after dark using a 59-foot (18-meter) reflective surface. If successful, Reflect Orbital plans to launch and operate a constellation of 50,000 satellites by 2035, with enough reflected light to illuminate areas up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) on the ground. The company says this technology will be available “on demand” and could be used across a variety of industries, including solar energy, agriculture, and emergency response sectors.“Imagine the endless possibilities when sunlight is not limited by geography or time of day,” Reflect Orbital says on its website. “A search-and-rescue team locates a missing person in minutes. A city has safer, evenly-lit streets without the carbon emissions. Construction projects complete in half the time with teams able to work through the night safely.”The growing number of satellite constellations orbiting Earth are driving concerns regarding space junk and light pollution. Reflect Orbital’s plans are already facing objections that the space mirrors could make astronomical observations more difficult. There are also concerns about how the reflected light could interfere with wildlife that depend on natural light cycles and impact the safety of aircraft pilots.Wired reports that the FCC received nearly 2,000 public comments opposing the space mirror plans, with the American Astronomical Society, DarkSky International, and the Royal Astronomical Society among the most notable critics. “For optical astronomy, this is an existential threat, and we hope that the regulators will share that view,” Betty Kioko, institutional affairs officer for the European Southern Observatory (ESO), said to Wired, ahead of the FCC clearance.#sunlight #reflecting #space #mirror #cleared #launchNews,Science,Space,Tech

has authorized the California-based startup to build and operate a single prototype satellite in low-Earth orbit later this year, despite concerns over how the technology could impact optical astronomy.

The satellite, named Eärendil-1 in reference to a Tolkien character, will attempt to redirect sunlight to specific areas on Earth after dark using a 59-foot (18-meter) reflective surface. If successful, Reflect Orbital plans to launch and operate a constellation of 50,000 satellites by 2035, with enough reflected light to illuminate areas up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) on the ground. The company says this technology will be available “on demand” and could be used across a variety of industries, including solar energy, agriculture, and emergency response sectors.

“Imagine the endless possibilities when sunlight is not limited by geography or time of day,” Reflect Orbital says on its website. “A search-and-rescue team locates a missing person in minutes. A city has safer, evenly-lit streets without the carbon emissions. Construction projects complete in half the time with teams able to work through the night safely.”

The growing number of satellite constellations orbiting Earth are driving concerns regarding space junk and light pollution. Reflect Orbital’s plans are already facing objections that the space mirrors could make astronomical observations more difficult. There are also concerns about how the reflected light could interfere with wildlife that depend on natural light cycles and impact the safety of aircraft pilots.

Wired reports that the FCC received nearly 2,000 public comments opposing the space mirror plans, with the American Astronomical Society, DarkSky International, and the Royal Astronomical Society among the most notable critics. “For optical astronomy, this is an existential threat, and we hope that the regulators will share that view,” Betty Kioko, institutional affairs officer for the European Southern Observatory (ESO), said to Wired, ahead of the FCC clearance.

#sunlight #reflecting #space #mirror #cleared #launchNews,Science,Space,Tech">The first sunlight reflecting space mirror has been cleared for launch

Reflect Orbital has been given the green light to launch its first space mirror that aims to redirect sunlight down to Earth at night. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized the California-based startup to build and operate a single prototype satellite in low-Earth orbit later this year, despite concerns over how the technology could impact optical astronomy.

The satellite, named Eärendil-1 in reference to a Tolkien character, will attempt to redirect sunlight to specific areas on Earth after dark using a 59-foot (18-meter) reflective surface. If successful, Reflect Orbital plans to launch and operate a constellation of 50,000 satellites by 2035, with enough reflected light to illuminate areas up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) on the ground. The company says this technology will be available “on demand” and could be used across a variety of industries, including solar energy, agriculture, and emergency response sectors.

“Imagine the endless possibilities when sunlight is not limited by geography or time of day,” Reflect Orbital says on its website. “A search-and-rescue team locates a missing person in minutes. A city has safer, evenly-lit streets without the carbon emissions. Construction projects complete in half the time with teams able to work through the night safely.”

The growing number of satellite constellations orbiting Earth are driving concerns regarding space junk and light pollution. Reflect Orbital’s plans are already facing objections that the space mirrors could make astronomical observations more difficult. There are also concerns about how the reflected light could interfere with wildlife that depend on natural light cycles and impact the safety of aircraft pilots.

Wired reports that the FCC received nearly 2,000 public comments opposing the space mirror plans, with the American Astronomical Society, DarkSky International, and the Royal Astronomical Society among the most notable critics. “For optical astronomy, this is an existential threat, and we hope that the regulators will share that view,” Betty Kioko, institutional affairs officer for the European Southern Observatory (ESO), said to Wired, ahead of the FCC clearance.

#sunlight #reflecting #space #mirror #cleared #launchNews,Science,Space,Tech

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