Hello All, My understanding (from a Lead Mechanical Eng. for the MMAs) is that the MMAs are treated with sliver-coated teflon for thermal control and therefore make perfect mirrors. I will forward the message (although the specifics do not go any further into detail) from this individual when I receive his permission. So definitely,these MMAs are much more highly reflective, certainly *not* larger than most arrays in general. Jeff Hunt <jhunt@radix.net> --- On Fri, 10 Oct 1997 11:00:31 -0700 Leigh Palmer <palmer@sfu.ca> wrote: >My biggest question, however, is why are these Iridium flares so very >much brighter than flares we all see occasionally on satellites with >large solar panels? Are these antennae much larger than most solar panels? >Are they much more highly reflective than most solar panels?