The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently gave the green light for Reflect Orbital to launch its prototype satellite, which will test its ability to reflect light down to Earth. Its prototype satellite, named Earendil-1, is designed to deploy a 59-foot (18-meter) film reflector when it launches to space later this year. Reflect Orbital would use its satellite constellation to illuminate areas up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) at a time with intensities ranging between 0.8 and 2.3 lux. The FCC’s approval of Reflect Orbital’s prototype satellite was met with heavy criticism, with four environmental groups filing a petition urging to reverse the decision, NBC reported. The upcoming launch of the company’s prototype satellite will not only be a test of the technology but also of how much it will affect those gazing up at our skies.