India's Skyroot Aerospace to launch US start-up satellites that could bring sunlight at night

Indian space start-up Skyroot Aerospace has signed a contract with California-based Reflect Orbital for two dedicated launches to deploy satellites designed to reflect sunlight towards selected locations on Earth.

The launches will use Skyroot's Vikram family of rockets, with the first mission scheduled to fly on the Vikram-1 launch vehicle and the second on the Vikram-1U rocket, which is under development.

Reflect Orbital plans to deploy a constellation of orbital mirrors to provide on-demand sunlight for applications such as extending solar power generation and illuminating disaster zones to assist search-and-rescue operations.

"There's a real launch capacity shortage right now. We're excited to work with a new launch provider, Skyroot, to help ensure access to space," Reflect Orbital Co-Founder and CEO Ben Nowack said in a statement.

The company said the two dedicated launches would provide assured launch schedules and capacity, complementing its other planned launches from sites in the United States.

Reflect Orbital builds and operates orbital mirrors designed to enable controlled lighting on the ground without the need for infrastructure at the target locations.

The company said the technology could support customers ranging from remote search-and-rescue operations to solar farms seeking to generate clean power for longer periods.

"For decades, the promise of space has been a better life here on Earth; expanding solar energy generation to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and helping save lives in emergency situations follow in that tradition," Nowack said.

He said that the company had recently received a licence from the US Federal Communications Commission to operate its first spacecraft and would continue engaging with astronomers, local communities and regulators as it seeks to expand its operations.

The agreement marks a new international commercial launch partnership for Skyroot, which recently achieved orbit with its Vikram-1 launch vehicle on its maiden flight, a milestone for India's private space sector.

The Vikram-1U rocket will feature additional first-stage boosters and improved performance compared with the Vikram-1, according to the companies.

In a post on X, Skyroot Aerospace Co-founder and CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana said, “Excited to partner with Reflect Orbital, pioneering one of the most innovative ways to harness space technology to unlock new possibilities here on Earth! Looking forward to launching their vision of sunshine on demand with @SkyrootA rockets."

In 1993, Russian scientists and engineers deployed a 65-foot mirror into orbit and sent a roving beam of sunlight on Earth. Though successful, the experiment named Znamya was shelved for want of funds.

Reflect Orbital’s plans have faced controversy as several environmental organisations have urged the FCC to scrap the permissions granted for the demonstration satellite.

They argue that bright beams of light during the night might disturb wildlife, interfere with astronomy studies and affect circadian rhythms in humans.