The Reflect Orbital Skyroot Aerospace deal will see the US space technology startup use two launch services from India’s Skyroot Aerospace to deploy satellites designed to deliver sunlight to specific locations on Earth at night.
California-based Reflect Orbital plans to build a constellation of satellites equipped with large reflective mirrors. The company aims to provide on-demand illumination for applications such as disaster response, search and rescue operations and extending solar power generation hours.
Under the contract, Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace will conduct two launches using its Vikram rocket family.
“These launches give us assured schedule and capacity alongside our other planned launches from US sites,” Reflect Orbital said in a statement.
Skyroot to use Vikram-1 and Vikram-1U rockets
The first launch under the agreement will use Skyroot’s Vikram-1 rocket, while the second will use the company’s in-development Vikram-1U launch vehicle.
According to the statement, Vikram-1U features additional first-stage boosters and improved performance.
Reflect Orbital Co-Founder and CEO Ben Nowack said the partnership with Skyroot would help the company secure access to space as it develops its satellite-based lighting service.
Skyroot Aerospace CEO Pawan Chandana also welcomed the partnership, describing the project as an application of space technology to create new possibilities on Earth.
Reflect Orbital plans on-demand sunlight service
Reflect Orbital aims to provide adjustable sunlight over a five-kilometre-wide area, with the illumination capable of being switched off when required.
The proposed service could support work in remote industrial areas, illuminate critical infrastructure for defence operations and assist search and rescue teams during emergencies. The company also sees potential applications in public events and other outdoor activities.
In July 2026, the startup received approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to construct, launch and operate a demonstration satellite.
Nowack said the company would continue working with astronomers, local communities and regulators as it seeks to expand its operations.
Environmental concerns surround orbital mirror plans
Reflect Orbital’s plans have attracted criticism from environmental organisations, which have urged the FCC to withdraw the permissions granted for its demonstration satellite.
Critics argue that concentrated light during nighttime could disturb wildlife, interfere with astronomical observations and affect human circadian rhythms.
The concept has historical precedent. In 1993, Russian scientists and engineers deployed a 65-foot mirror into orbit under the Znamya experiment, directing reflected sunlight towards Earth. Although the experiment was successful, the programme was discontinued due to a lack of funding.
Reflect Orbital’s proposed service would seek to commercialise a similar concept using a planned satellite constellation, subject to regulatory requirements and further development.
