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From: Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: OT: Surely there's an SF story with this.....
Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2024 00:58:32 -0500
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On 9/3/2024 8:30 PM, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
> On 9/3/2024 11:44 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>> On 9/3/2024 1:08 PM, Cryptoengineer wrote:
>>> 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
>>
>> Better have failsafes.
>>
> But then you wouldn't have a story for the book!

But there would be no one left on Earth to read the story !

Lynn