Reflect Orbital Secures $20 Million in Series A Funding to Advance Development of Satellite Constellation
Hawthorne, CA-based spacetech startup, Reflect Orbital, secured $20M in Series A funding for its sun-reflecting satellite constellation, aiming for a first launch next spring. The funds will expand the company’s engineering team, boost operational capacity, and support initial space missions. Lux Capital led the round with Seqouia Capital and Starship Ventures participating. "Reflect Orbital is pioneering a new category in-space infrastructure that represents the convergence of two areas we're passionate about-space technology and energy solutions," said Josh Wolfe, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Lux Capital. "We believe their on-demand illumination technology has the potential to reshape how we solve problems on Earth-from critical operations to energy resilience-while opening entirely new markets we're only beginning to imagine."
Reflect aims to deploy a network of satellites capable of reflecting sunlight on demand to Earth for large-scale lighting and energy solutions. Founded in 2021, the company has received over 260,000 requests from 157 countries for nighttime lighting services, including illuminating construction projects, public events, disaster relief, and defense operations. Next spring, Reflect plans to launch its first satellite to illuminate 10 “iconic” global locations as part of its “World Tour,” sparking public interest despite concerns about light pollution. CEO and Co-founder Ben Nowack aims for targeted light beams to minimize spillover.
The demo satellite will feature an 18m by 18m mirror made of mylar, expected to reach a brightness comparable to a full moon on a clear night. Future satellites could scale up to 55m by 55m reflectors, increasing luminosity similar to the Sun at noon.
Reflect envisions thousands of satellites in orbit, becoming self-sustaining through pre-launch bookings. “Our pipeline deals already exceed our initial mission costs,” Nowack stated.
Reflect Orbital’s concept of positioning mirrors in space to reflect sunlight onto the Earth is a strategy that the Soviet Union attempted many years ago. The Znamya project was a series of orbital space mirror experiments in the 1990s, designed to beam solar power to Earth by reflecting sunlight. The project was originally intended as a solar sail but later adapted as a space mirror. Ultimately, the Russian Federal Space Agency abandoned the project.
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