Path: ...!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!individual.net!not-for-mail From: ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan ) Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written Subject: Re: OT: Surely there's an SF story with this..... Date: 30 Aug 2024 12:24:01 GMT Organization: loft Lines: 38 Message-ID: References: X-Trace: individual.net HyK7RoLwEx/GTGIkDJ7WuAwAP/4JClX8+BZPOg5WhBtrw5tMaI X-Orig-Path: not-for-mail Cancel-Lock: sha1:2oQaAxdPnFKXvkQTqW+LsQoS74g= sha256:DnJIpDk3m6rhECfiYY5oRLqcDOivVGjZXlzIAgLKAdg= X-Newsreader: trn 4.0-test76 (Apr 2, 2001) Bytes: 2125 In article , Titus G wrote: >On 30/08/24 06:07, 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 > >I found the website fascinating including the interesting backgrounds of >the principals. (Keep us informed if you learn more, please.) >The SF story I am reminded of is of a far smaller scale about the >unfortunate soccer referee choosing principle to the game over loyalty >to the crowd but I can't remember the title nor author. Clarke, "A Slight Case Of Sunstroke" (aka "The Stroke Of The Sun"). -- columbiaclosings.com What's not in Columbia anymore..