The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has given the green light to Reflect Orbital's first sunlight-reflecting test satellite, known as Earendil-1. This approval, however, is limited to a single unit, representing just 0.002% of the startup's ambitious target of over 50,000 satellites by 2035.
The Earendil-1 license permits UHF, S-band, and X-band radio links from an orbit approximately 625 kilometers above Earth. The license has a two-year term, with about one year allocated for operations and less than one for deorbiting—a much shorter period than the typical 15-year window for standard FCC space-station licenses. Reflect must also post a surety bond by August 10 as a guarantee against default. Any future satellite applications will undergo separate reviews.
While the FCC approval clears a communications and orbital debris hurdle for this single experiment, it does not create demand, set prices, solve costs, secure environmental approval, or address the broader economics for a fleet of tens of thousands of satellites. The company plans to launch Earendil-1 later this year but has not yet specified a date. Ben Nowack, co-founder and CEO, stated, "This license is the first step toward rigorously testing our technology's efficacy." The team will focus on metrics such as measured brightness, pointing accuracy, beam duration, power output, and verifying that safety systems function as intended.
Reflect Orbital's roadmap extends beyond this initial lighting test. The company's energy service remains in testing through 2028, with a target of achieving a 1% capacity-factor improvement by 2030 and 20% by 2035. The initial test will provide 0.1 lux of light for five minutes, equivalent to a full moon, while the ultimate goal is to deliver up to 36,000 lux for several hours. The company aims for a 20% gain in capacity factor and 300 W/m² for three hours by 2035.
The planned expansion becomes increasingly challenging after 2028. The minimum deployment pace jumps from approximately 2.6 satellites per day in 2028 to nearly 25 per day between 2031 and 2035. These figures do not account for failed satellites, replacements, or delays. For context, the company targets 36 satellites by 2027, 1,000 by 2028, 5,000 by 2030, and 50,000 by 2035.
Factory output and upfront funding are critical to how the market will value Reflect. The company raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Lux Capital in May 2025, with participation from Sequoia Capital and Starship Ventures. Details on unit costs, launch spending, customer pricing, or signed revenue were not disclosed. Lux managing partner Josh Wolfe noted that the platform could be used for "critical operations to energy resilience," but acknowledged that it is not yet possible to determine how much additional capital the company will need.
Brightness poses a challenge for competition and for the product's success. The European Southern Observatory noted that SpaceX has worked to dim its broadband satellites, but Reflect's service relies on satellites being highly reflective. ESO astronomer Olivier Hainaut warned that sunlit satellites can appear "much brighter than distant galaxies." His models suggest that a single Reflect mirror could ruin an image from a camera like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's, and a full constellation could render every picture useless when the satellites are sunlit. These are simulations, not data from Earendil-1.
Risks extend beyond the mirror's failure. Earendil-1 could fall short on brightness or pointing accuracy, and costs could exceed what customers are willing to pay. Manufacturing or launch delays are possible, and astronomers or other groups may push back when they see actual results. One satellite is insufficient for regulatory cover if the company aims for a full fleet. If this test is weak, Reflect might miss the technical proof needed to secure funding for more satellites.
U.S. markets open again Monday, July 13, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Reflect has only stated that the launch is set for "later this year." Attention remains on the launch timeline, independent testing updates, customer deals, and pricing details. The August 10 bond filing is still the main regulatory marker ahead. With no fresh financial data, the FCC's approval allows Reflect to run tests, but that alone does not constitute a viable business.