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truthisfreedom

(23,556 posts)
22. Sounds horrible but the math looks silly
Mon Jul 13, 2026, 07:44 PM
10 hrs ago

59 square feet? or 59 ft on an edge? If it's 59 feet on an edge and there's 50,000 of them, at full efficiency (100% reflectivity) that's 174,000,000 square feet, or less than 6.5 square miles. Even fully deployed this will not illuminate a quarter of Manhattan at full sunlight. They're testing one unit. It will not be 100% efficient, nor will it even likely work. Let them play with their toys. This concept is no threat to the night sky overall, which has already been ruined by streaks from Elon's satellites zipping by the thousands. BTW, there are already about 10,700 Starlink satellites in the sky and each has a surface area of 1248 square feet, for a total of 13,353,600 square feet of reflective junk just from him alone. And it's spread out everywhere, inescapably blotting out the clear view of the sky. It drives astronomers nuts. They detest him. At least this thing would be all in one place, wrecking just one spot in the sky. No big whoop so far.

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

This sounds like a bad idea, unforeseen consequences and all... wcmagumba 13 hrs ago #1
Very bad Idea. Darkness is necessary to many plants, animals and yes even humans to survive and grow. efhmc 13 hrs ago #7
It sounds like a way to make people work around the clock. yardwork 11 hrs ago #21
This has been proposed for many many years (maybe not proposed but speculated to in many Sci-Fi books. SWBTATTReg 13 hrs ago #2
More light pollution! Yesssss! Trueblue Texan 8 hrs ago #35
Not to mention it's principal use will probably be as a tool of war Ponietz 13 hrs ago #3
Aryan Light Beams? erronis 13 hrs ago #8
They'll figure that part out later FakeNoose 11 hrs ago #17
Reflect Orbital receives funding from the Air Force Ponietz 11 hrs ago #20
I think it is a precursor to 'orbital billboards' Seinan Sensei 9 hrs ago #32
Knowing this isn't a cynical comment grieves me Ponietz 59 min ago #47
No need to worry about animals (and plants) that need night to sleep, hunt, live. erronis 13 hrs ago #4
It's absolutely insane. highplainsdem 13 hrs ago #6
There goes the circadian rhythms of most living things Marie Marie 10 hrs ago #25
This Bayard 7 hrs ago #41
Sounds somewhat innocuous but sdfernando 13 hrs ago #5
James Bond plot Die Another Day 2002 Brenda 13 hrs ago #9
Have these people never heard of LAMPS? Qutzupalotl 13 hrs ago #10
Oh, FFS! Plants', animals' health which we do rely on in obvious, and not obvious ways! electric_blue68 12 hrs ago #11
What will happen is they will spend millions over a few years. There will be a lot of planning and Srkdqltr 12 hrs ago #12
They're emptying the US Treasury as fast as they can FakeNoose 11 hrs ago #18
Yes they are. Srkdqltr 9 hrs ago #33
This "great idea" should be reviewed through the National Evironmental Policy Act (NEPA). waterwatcher123 12 hrs ago #13
Geostationary high-altitude balloons would be cheaper and more servicable. They're already in fairly wide use. eppur_se_muova 11 hrs ago #14
This is one of those "Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you should". Snarkoleptic 11 hrs ago #15
What? Could? Go? Wrong? Charlie Chapulin 11 hrs ago #16
The absolute insanity... GiqueCee 11 hrs ago #19
Sounds horrible but the math looks silly truthisfreedom 10 hrs ago #22
Exactly. It's an incredibly stupid idea that will never work. paleotn 10 hrs ago #27
Unless they all shatter. The conceptual warning behind the movie Gravity is becoming a reality, and the universe cheers Cheezoholic 8 hrs ago #36
It says "film mirror" truthisfreedom 5 hrs ago #45
How disruptive is it when people get sent up to the Land of the Midnight Sun? NBachers 10 hrs ago #23
I can't help but feel this is a very, very bad idea.... slightlv 10 hrs ago #24
Stupid and going nowhere. paleotn 10 hrs ago #26
Why on God's green earth would we want to do this? PatrickforB 9 hrs ago #28
Republicans LOVE the uneducated and mistreated WorseDayEver 9 hrs ago #31
I know I don't want sunshine Faux pas 9 hrs ago #29
Republican bullshit.. If it makes $$$ in short term is all they care about, long term unimportant WorseDayEver 9 hrs ago #30
I have a dream of beaming microwaves from outer space onto Mar-A-Lago struggle4progress 8 hrs ago #34
I'm not too worried. The extraterrestrials will probably Ilsa 8 hrs ago #37
Thinking back to when I lived in a very rurual, remote part of Montana and mercury-vapor yard lamps Attilatheblond 8 hrs ago #38
Sure. Why not. progressoid 7 hrs ago #39
Ooo! LudwigPastorius 7 hrs ago #40
Have they asked the rest of the Earth if they want 24 hour days sarisataka 7 hrs ago #42
Lets see if we can fuck up our natural environment big time. patphil 5 hrs ago #43
Let's surround the CEOs house with searchlights, see how he likes it. Bobstandard 5 hrs ago #44
Let's heat up Earth some more. colorado_ufo 3 hrs ago #46
My only question is; "how much did this startup donate to Donnie Dipshit and Retrumplicans" and maxrandb 32 min ago #48
Psst....it's not just light purr-rat beauty 5 min ago #49
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