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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: Wed, 04 Sep 2024 01:04:31 +1000
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On Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:31:29 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

>On 8/30/2024 2:39 AM, Mad Hamish wrote:
>> 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
>
>What level ?
>
The level that melts heavy metal asteroids (and also blows up
spaceships iirc)