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From: Mad Hamish <newsunspammelaws@iinet.unspamme.net.au>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: OT: Surely there's an SF story with this.....
Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2024 17:39:10 +1000
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On Thu, 29 Aug 2024 13:29:43 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

>On 8/29/2024 1:07 PM, Cryptoengineer wrote:
>> Reflect Orbital
>> 
>> https://www.reflectorbital.com/lighting
>> 
>> is proposing to launch a fleet of orbital mirrors to provide lighting
>> to nighttime locations on the Earth.
>> 
>> They claim they will be able to light up a 5km diameter circle for
>> 4 minutes. They're accepting reservations, but I can't find any
>> pricing. They expect to start in Q4 2025.
>> 
>> I'm *extremely* skeptical. To be even as bright as moonlight,
>> the mirror would have to appear 1/7 the area of the Moon in
>> the sky.
>> 
>> I can't think of a use case for 4 minutes of light, but they
>> also talk about using it to power up solar panel systems at
>> night, which makes no sense.
>> 
>> I think its either an art project, or some kind of scam to
>> fleece investors who are bad at math.
>> 
>> Still, very stfnal.
>> 
>> pt
>
>"Live Free or Die" by John Ringo is close to the concept.  The 
>protagonist uses millions of mirrors by Sol to melt metal heavy 
>asteroids and protect Earth from invaders coming through the new Star Gate.

I'm hoping that they'll be well short of that level