Is there a space mirror in orbit right now?

No. There is currently no space mirror in Earth orbit. The last was Znamya-2.5 which failed during deployment in 1999. EARENDIL-1 from Reflect Orbital is targeting a launch later in 2026 — the first orbital mirror in over 25 years.

When will EARENDIL-1 launch?

Reflect Orbital is targeting later in 2026 for EARENDIL-1. The exact date has not been confirmed publicly. OrbitalSolar.ai will update pass predictions the moment orbital elements are published after launch.

How will I know when EARENDIL-1 has launched?

OrbitalSolar.ai will display live pass predictions as soon as EARENDIL-1's TLE orbital data is published on Space-Track.org after launch. The tracker page will switch from pre-launch status to live pass times automatically.

What other orbital mirrors are planned?

EARENDIL-1 is the only confirmed commercial orbital mirror with an FCC licence and announced launch target. No other operators have reached this stage. Rival programmes may emerge if EARENDIL-1 succeeds commercially.

What is the current status of EARENDIL-1?

EARENDIL-1 is FCC-approved (9 July 2026) and in pre-launch status, targeting a launch later in 2026. There is currently no orbital mirror in orbit. The tracker will update to show live mission status, orbital elements, and pass predictions from the moment launch and orbital insertion are confirmed.

How will OrbitalSolar track EARENDIL-1 after launch?

Once EARENDIL-1's TLE (Two-Line Element) orbital data is published — typically within hours of launch confirmation — OrbitalSolar.ai will use SGP4 orbital propagation to calculate real-time position and pass predictions. The same method used for ISS and Starlink tracking on OrbitalNodes.ai. Pass predictions will include direction, elevation, peak brightness, and whether the mirror is in active commercial mode or tilted away.

Has any space mirror ever been tracked in real time?

Znamya-2 (1993) and Znamya-2.5 (1999) were tracked by the standard Soviet/Russian space tracking network. Neither was publicly trackable in real time in the way modern satellites are — the internet as a public tool barely existed in 1993. EARENDIL-1 will be the first orbital mirror trackable in real time by the general public via web-based tools like OrbitalSolar.ai.

What other mirror programmes are listed in the tracker?

The tracker covers all documented orbital mirror missions: Znamya-2 (Russia, 1993 — success), Znamya-2.5 (Russia, 1999 — failed deployment), the Chengdu artificial moon proposal (China, 2018 — never built), and EARENDIL-1 (Reflect Orbital, targeting 2026). Future programmes from China, ESA, and other actors will be added as credible announcements emerge.

Space Mirror Tracker — Is Any Mirror in Orbit Right Now?

0MIRRORS IN ORBIT NOW

2HISTORICAL FLIGHTS

1FAILED DEPLOYMENTS

1LAUNCHES IMMINENT

◈ NEXT CONFIRMED ORBITAL MIRROR LAUNCH

EARENDIL-1 — Reflect Orbital

Estimated launch window: later in 2026 · FCC filing confirmed · US Air Force SBIR contract awarded

—DAYS

—HOURS

—MINS

—SECS

Orbital mirror statusAll known missions

Mirrors in orbit right now

None has ever flown commercially. The last mirror of any kind was Znamya-2.5 in 1999, and it failed to deploy.

Eärendil-1Reflect Orbital · FCC licence granted 9 July 2026 · launch targeted later in 2026

Pre-launch

Znamya-2Russia · 1993 · 20 m — the only mirror that ever deployed successfully

Success

Znamya-2.5Russia · 1999 · 25 m — snagged on an antenna during deployment

Failed

ChengduChina · 2018 — proposal only, no hardware built

Shelved

RO constellation2027+ · 5,000+ rising to 50,000+, only if Eärendil-1 succeeds

Proposed

Pass tracking on this page goes live the moment Eärendil-1 is catalogued after launch. For the full mission-by-mission comparison — sizes, brightness and purpose — see the complete timeline.

ALL MISSIONS

Complete Mission Registry

FLOWN · 1993

Znamya-2

RSC Energia / Russian Space Agency · Progress M-15 / Mir Station

MISSION COMPLETE
DEORBITED

20mMIRROR DIAMETER

390kmORBITAL ALTITUDE

around Full MoonPEAK GROUND BRIGHTNESS IN BEAM

The first orbital mirror ever deployed. Unfurled from Progress M-15 cargo craft docked to the Mir space station. The aluminised Mylar reflector successfully traced a 5km beam across nighttime Europe, confirming the fundamental physics. Visible from the ground. Refolded after the demonstration and burned up on re-entry with the Progress craft.

FAILED DEPLOY · 1999

Znamya-2.5

RSC Energia / Russian Space Agency · Progress M-40 / Mir Station

DEPLOYMENT FAILED
PROGRAMME ENDED

25mMIRROR DIAMETER

390kmORBITAL ALTITUDE

5–10× MoonTARGET GROUND BRIGHTNESS (UNACHIEVED)

A larger follow-on to Znamya-2, targeting magnitude 3 brightness — comparable to a bright star at dusk. The reflector snagged on an external antenna on the Progress craft during deployment and failed to fully unfurl. The experiment was terminated, and the programme was cancelled after Mir's controlled deorbit in March 2001.

SHELVED · 2018–2020

Chengdu Artificial Moon

Chengdu Aerospace Science Institute · Chengdu City Government · China

NO HARDWARE
PROGRAMME INACTIVE

UndisclosedMIRROR SIZE

500kmPROPOSED ALTITUDE

8× MoonCLAIMED BRIGHTNESS

Announced by Chengdu city officials in 2018, the proposal claimed a reflective satellite could illuminate up to 50km of urban area with 8× the brightness of the full moon, reducing street lighting costs. Global media coverage was extensive. Chinese aerospace scientists publicly questioned the technical and economic claims. No funding, hardware, or launch schedule was ever confirmed. The proposal appears inactive as of 2024.

PENDING LAUNCH · 2026

EARENDIL-1

Reflect Orbital · USA · FCC application filed

PRE-LAUNCH
LATER IN 2026 TARGET

18×18mMYLAR MIRROR

625km 88° POLARTARGET ORBIT

around VenusPEAK BRIGHTNESS

The first commercial orbital mirror and the first illumination satellite since Znamya-2.5 (1999). A demonstration satellite for Reflect Orbital's planned constellation — 5,000+ mirrors by 2030, scaling toward 50,000+ by 2035. Funded by $20M Series A led by Lux Capital (May 2025) plus a $6.5M seed led by Sequoia (September 2024). A US Air Force SBIR contract ($1.25M) validates military illumination applications. Each pass delivers 3.5 minutes of enhanced light to a 5km footprint. Pass tracking will go live on OrbitalNodes.ai at launch. → Full Reflect Orbital company profile

PROPOSED · 2027+

Reflect Orbital Constellation (Phase 2+)

Reflect Orbital · USA

CONTINGENT ON
EARENDIL-1 SUCCESS

5,000+BY 2030 · PHASE 2

50,000LONG-TERM GOAL

20% SunTARGET INTENSITY

Reflect Orbital's full commercial vision: a pole-to-pole sun-synchronous constellation delivering coordinated mirror passes over solar farms, entertainment venues, and military targets. Sun-synchronous orbit keeps every satellite in near-constant sunlight. The published 2030 target is 5,000+ satellites, rising to 50,000+ by 2035. Both figures have attracted heavy criticism from astronomers and the IAU, who argue the full constellation would fundamentally alter the shared night sky.

Space Mirror TrackerLive Status

ALL MISSIONS

Complete Mission Registry

Pass Tracking Goes Live at EARENDIL-1 Launch

Space Mirror Tracker
Live Status