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From: Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: OT: Surely there's an SF story with this.....
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2024 14:08:33 -0400
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On 9/3/2024 11:04 AM, Mad Hamish wrote:
> 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)

And is a weapon of mass destruction if pointed at the Earth.

pt