posted in Technology

U.S. FCC approves giant space mirror to deliver 'sunlight on demand,' but what are the legal implications?

www.cbc.ca/news/science/reflect-orbital-approval-fcc-9.7287535
CBCANALYSIS | U.S. FCC approves giant space mirror to deliver 'sunlight on demand,' but what are the legal implications? | CBC NewsDespite hundreds of public comments opposing a giant space mirror that would shine light roughly five kilometres wide, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has given it the green light. What could this mean for Canadians?

Replying to @⁨sanitation@lemmy.today⁩

This isn’t a weapon, and probably won’t work as intended either.

“Space lasers” don’t work over long distances because the light spreads out. (inverse square law) A pinpoint laser is almost 2m wide when pointed at a low flying aircraft.

Increasing intensity doesn’t work because you’ll need a) a Dyson sphere level of energy input. or b) a mirror big enough to occupy a significant fraction of our orbit.

This is just “data center in space” fiction