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ClimateQuiet 9d · day 12

Planetary sunshade study says space-based climate fix could be viable in 20–40 years

A detailed analysis from the Planetary Sunshade Institute suggests falling rocket costs may make orbital sun-blocking feasible, though critics warn of risks and distraction from emissions cuts.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 8d ago4 pieces101 likes & upvotes9 comments NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodonBluesky

What to know

  • A newly published analysis by the Planetary Sunshade Institute concludes that a space-based reflective structure could cool Earth by 1°C and become buildable within 20–40 years if rocket launch costs continue declining.
  • The concept, partly inspired by Elon Musk's August proposal, faces persistent criticism: scientists warn of risks from thousands of rocket launches, poorly understood atmospheric and weather effects, and concern that geoengineering distracts from essential emissions reductions.
  • The UK government-backed ARIA agency funded the report with £400,000 as part of a £56.8-million research programme on solar geoengineering, reflecting growing serious engagement with the topic as climate targets slip.
some voices

The idea is not a serious solution and should be rejected outright.

“A lot of people think this idea is 'just fantasy'”

Chantal Cappelletti, Space-systems engineer, University of Nottingham · Nature ↗ · Oct 27

Elon MuskElon Musk SpaceX CEOPlanetary Sunshade Institute Non-profit geoengineering research organizationChantal Cappelletti Space-systems engineer, University of NottinghamMorgan Goodwin Climate activist, Planetary Sunshade Institute executive directorUK Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) Government-backed research funder

Planetary sunshade study says space-based climate fix could be viable in 20–40 years
nature.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in 3h at Oct 27, 7 PM; 4 pieces over 12 days (2 articles · 2 posts) Oct 27, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 27, 10 PM — quietOct 28, 1 AM — quietOct 28, 4 AM — quietOct 28, 7 AM — quietOct 28, 10 AM — quietOct 28, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 28, 4 PM — quietOct 28, 7 PM — quietOct 28, 10 PM — quietOct 29, 1 AM — quietOct 29, 4 AM — quietOct 29, 7 AM — quietOct 29, 10 AM — quietOct 29, 1 PM — quietOct 29, 4 PM — quietOct 29, 7 PM — quietOct 29, 10 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 30, 1 AM — quietOct 30, 4 AM — quietOct 30, 7 AM — quietOct 30, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Oct 30, 1 PM — quietOct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 7 PM — quietOct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 1 AM — quietOct 31, 4 AM — quietOct 31, 7 AM — quietOct 31, 10 AM — quietOct 31, 1 PM — quietOct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 7 PM — quietOct 31, 10 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 6 AM — quietNov 1, 9 AM — quietNov 1, 12 PM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 9 PM — quietNov 2, 12 AM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 9 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quiet 12
Oct 28Oct 29Oct 30Oct 31Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6now · 9:09 AM ET
  1. 2

    Scientists defend feasibility despite persistent skepticism about concept

    Space-systems engineer Chantal Cappelletti acknowledges that many view the planetary sunshade idea as 'just fantasy,' but argues that declining launch costs have shifted the calculation toward technical feasibility. Climate activist Morgan Goodwin, executive director of the Planetary Sunshade Institute, frames the accelerating climate crisis as pushing researchers toward solar geoengineering despite its controversies.

    “the 'accelerating climate crisis' is pushing the world towards solar geoengineering…”
    — Morgan Goodwin
  2. 1 day quiet
  3. 1

    Planetary Sunshade Institute publishes detailed geoengineering analysis

    The Planetary Sunshade Institute released what researchers call the most detailed analysis yet of space-based solar geoengineering. The report, funded by a £400,000 ARIA grant and summarizing work from engineers and climate scientists including those from NASA, estimates that a planetary sunshade could become viable to build in as few as 20–40 years, contingent on rapid development of heavy-lift rockets capable of hauling millions of tonnes of material to deep space.

    “the falling cost of space launches have made the prospect seem more feasible…”
    — Chantal Cappelletti
  4. background

    Musk proposes space satellites to shade Earth from sun — Entrepreneur Elon Musk suggested in a social-media post that Earth could be cooled by launching satellites into space to shade the planet from the Sun. He described 'sentient satellites' that 'can solve global warming for ~1B years,' though it was unclear whether he meant it seriously.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Could a giant sunshade in space ‘solve global warming’? Scientists are taking the idea seriously

    first by Nature, 10d ago · also Nature News

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