History of Reflect Orbital in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 15, 2026

Reflect Orbital is a space technology startup that aims to provide on-demand sunlight to specific locations on Earth using a constellation of orbiting mirrors. By reflecting sunlight toward ground-based solar farms during dawn or dusk, the company intends to extend the operational hours of solar energy production, effectively bypassing the intermittency issues caused by the setting sun. The system utilizes satellite-mounted reflective surfaces to focus light onto pre-determined coordinates, allowing energy providers to boost output when demand is high. While the project has garnered attention for its ambitious approach to renewable energy infrastructure, it also faces significant technical, logistical, and ethical scrutiny regarding light pollution and the complexities of orbital deployment.

October 2021: Founding of Reflect Orbital

In October 2021, Reflect Orbital was officially established in Santa Monica, California, by co-founders Ben Nowack, a former SpaceX aerospace engineer, and Tristan Semmelhack.

2021: Founding of Reflect Orbital, Inc.

In 2021, the space technology company Reflect Orbital, Inc. was established in Hawthorne, California, with the objective of developing satellites equipped with deployable mirrors to reflect sunlight onto the Earth's surface.

December 2022: Tristan Semmelhack joins as co-founder

In December 2022, Tristan Semmelhack, a former mechanical engineer at Zipline, made the decision to drop out of Stanford University to dedicate himself to his role as co-founder of Reflect Orbital alongside Ben Nowack.

March 2024: Hot Air Balloon Mirror Demonstration

In March 2024, Reflect Orbital showcased a robotic mirror measuring 64 square feet suspended from a hot air balloon, successfully redirecting sunlight onto ground-based solar panels during astronomical twilight.

September 2024: Seed Funding Round Completion

In September 2024, Reflect Orbital successfully secured US$6.5 million in a seed funding round. The investment was led by Shaun Maguire and Sequoia Capital, with additional backing from Baiju Bhatt and Zipline co-founders Keller Rinaudo and Keenan Wyrobek.

May 2025: Series A Funding Announcement

During May 2025, the company officially announced the acquisition of US$20 million in new funding. This capital was provided by a group of investors including Lux Capital, Sequoia Capital, and Starship Ventures.

May 2025: Announcement of Eärendil-1 Satellite Mission

In May 2025, Reflect Orbital announced the upcoming launch of their first satellite, Eärendil-1, designed to test large-scale heliostat technology in a Sun-synchronous orbit to provide illumination to Earth.

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June 2025: SBIR Phase II Contract Award

In June 2025, Reflect Orbital was awarded a US$1.25 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX to further the development of their reflector technology.

September 2025: SpaceX Selected as Launch Provider

In September 2025, Reflect Orbital announced the selection of SpaceX as their launch provider, with plans to conduct the first two satellite launches using the Falcon 9 vehicle beginning no later than 2026.

2025: Surge in Service Inquiries

By the end of 2025, Reflect Orbital recorded over 260,000 inquiries regarding potential nighttime illumination services for various sectors, including military operations, disaster relief, and public events.

July 9, 2026: FCC License Grant for First Satellite

On July 9, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission officially granted a license to Reflect Orbital for the operation of their first satellite, marking a significant regulatory milestone for the company.

2026: Cumulative Funding Milestone

As of 2026, Reflect Orbital reached a cumulative total of US$35.2 million in raised funding, reflecting the company's financial growth and investor confidence in their mission.

2026: 2026 Reflect Orbital Demonstration Mission

In 2026, Reflect Orbital plans to conduct a demonstration mission during which the company has committed to collaborating with astronomers to address concerns regarding light pollution and potential interference with observational astronomy.

2026: Scheduled Launch of Eärendil-1

In 2026, the company plans to launch the Eärendil-1 mission, aiming to demonstrate its heliostat technology by illuminating ten specific global locations.

2026: Planned Satellite Proof-of-Concept Launch

Reflect Orbital scheduled the launch of two proof-of-concept satellite missions for 2026, which are designed to reflect low-intensity light comparable to the brightness of moonlight.

2027: FCC Licensing Application for Satellite Constellation

In preparation for operations beginning in 2027, Reflect Orbital submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission to obtain a license for launching and managing a full satellite constellation.