Reflect Orbital: Sunlight after dark using a constellation of spatial reflectors • Hacker News Board

Re: Reflect Orbital: Sunlight after dark using a constellation of spatial reflectors

#11

Post by danielvf » Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 1:22 AM UTC

ungreased0675 wrote: post #3

I prefer it to be dark at night. I’d make every streetlight 60% less bright if I could. Sorry, but I hate this idea.

I don't think they are aiming to be lighting things up at night, just twilight. It's a day extender.

Re: Reflect Orbital: Sunlight after dark using a constellation of spatial reflectors

#12

Post by smoghat » Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 1:33 AM UTC

[flagged]

Re: Reflect Orbital: Sunlight after dark using a constellation of spatial reflectors

#13

Post by cebert » Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 1:38 AM UTC

I’m curious to know the effects of beaming additional solar energy to Earth on climate change. I can’t imagine it’d be good.

Re: Reflect Orbital: Sunlight after dark using a constellation of spatial reflectors

#14

Post by tired_and_awake » Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 1:53 AM UTC

cebert wrote: post #13

I’m curious to know the effects of beaming additional solar energy to Earth on climate change. I can’t imagine it’d be good.

If this is a legitimate concern perhaps they can launch a second set of satellites to block peak sunlight.

Re: Reflect Orbital: Sunlight after dark using a constellation of spatial reflectors

#15

Post by disqard » Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 2:14 AM UTC

johnea wrote: post #4

> selling sunlight Sounds like an eco disaster to me. Some things only happen when it's dark... I'm amazed I almost never read about a much more viable alternative: inter-continental power transmission cables. There are a few projects: UK buying electricity from Morocco, Singapore buying electricity from Australia. Both implemented using undersea power transmission cables. If this could be implemented on a global sca…

> inter-continental power transmission cables

That's like saying "what we need is to improve mass public transit" -- no Vulture Capitalist would bite at that!

You have to pitch a solo-vehicle-in-a-tunnel or some such crazy idea, so that everybody knows you're a "visionary".

Re: Reflect Orbital: Sunlight after dark using a constellation of spatial reflectors

#16

Post by disqard » Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 2:15 AM UTC

ryandvm wrote: post #6

I am so tired of seeing ideas that are indiscernible from satire. This is like something that they would have come up with on HBO's Silicon Valley. Who do I complain to when a nearby golf course orders some nightshine and now my sky looks like I'm under a fucking police helicopter?

I had the same thought as you -- glad to see I'm not the only one.

Re: Reflect Orbital: Sunlight after dark using a constellation of spatial reflectors

#17

Post by idontwantthis » Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 2:30 AM UTC

disqard wrote: post #15

johnea wrote: post #4

> selling sunlight Sounds like an eco disaster to me. Some things only happen when it's dark... I'm amazed I almost never read about a much more viable alternative: inter-continental power transmission cables. There are a few projects: UK buying electricity from Morocco, Singapore buying electricity from Australia. Both implemented using undersea power transmission cables. If this could be implemented on a global sca…

> inter-continental power transmission cables That's like saying "what we need is to improve mass public transit" -- no Vulture Capitalist would bite at that! You have to pitch a solo-vehicle-in-a-tunnel or some such crazy idea, so that everybody knows you're a "visionary".