US start-up Reflect Orbital has won approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch into Low Earth Orbit its first demonstration satellite, Earendil-1, built to test a steerable reflector that redirects sunlight from orbit to targeted spots on Earth, which the company says could extend the usable hours of solar power installations.

Ambitious startup wants to deploy more than 50,000 of these satellites by 2035.

Reflect Orbital will reflect the sun’s rays back to Earth for extra solar energy and lighting