[1] Originally devised as a solar sail, Syromyatnikov pivoted to using the proposed hardware as a space mirror.

After the failed deployment of the Znamya 2.5 the project was abandoned by the Russian Federal Space Agency .

The mirror deployed successfully, and, when illuminated, produced a 5 km wide bright spot, which traversed Europe from southern France to western Russia at a speed of 8 km/s.

[3] Although clouds covered much of Europe that morning, a few ground observers reported seeing a flash of light as the beam swept by.

After several vain attempts by Russian mission control to free the mirror from the antenna, the Znamya 2.5 was de-orbited, and burned up upon reentry.