The FCC authorized radio operations for Reflect Orbital’s single 18-metre demonstration satellite in 2026 as a precursor to a potential 50,000-unit constellation. Astronomy models project a 200–300 % increase in night-sky brightness and up to 28 % loss of observing time for Chile-based telescopes. Separate industry projections cite totals approaching 1 million satellites for one operator and 1.7 million across all planned systems.