Knowledge Gaps
Physical science / mechanism
Version published:
June 30, 2026 - 9:15pm
- For a fleet of spacecraft, what is the optimum solar shield element size (Roy 2022)?
- Should latitude variations be implemented in the sunshade, and if so, how (Matonti et al. 2026)?
- For a fleet of spacecraft, what is the optimum solar shield element size (Roy 2022)?
- Should latitude variations be implemented in the sunshade, and if so, how (Matonti et al. 2026)?
Engineering needs (technical feasibility)
Version published:
June 30, 2026 - 9:17pm
- Requires long-lasting spacecraft that can withstand radiation damage (Angel 2006).
- Would need to regularly update spacecraft to avoid failure of fleet and subsequent termination shock.
- Need to reduce launch rate to reduce amount of water vapor and nitrous oxide production, which argues for construction of solar shield elements in space (Roy 2022), such an approach needs development.
- Solar sailing and spacecraft operations need to be tested around the ideal deployment location in space (near the Lagrange point) to gather data on the orbital environment and study effects on spacecraft (Matonti et al. 2026).
- Optimal membrane for sunshade needs to be developed (Matonti et al. 2026).
- Optimal launch vehicles and strategies need to be developed (Matonti et al. 2026).
- Requires long-lasting spacecraft that can withstand radiation damage (Angel 2006).
- Would need to regularly update spacecraft to avoid failure of fleet and subsequent termination shock.
- Need to reduce launch rate to reduce amount of water vapor and nitrous oxide production, which argues for construction of solar shield elements in space (Roy 2022), such an approach needs development.
- Solar sailing and spacecraft operations need to be tested around the ideal deployment location in space (near the Lagrange point) to gather data on the orbital environment and study effects on spacecraft (Matonti et al. 2026).
- Optimal membrane for sunshade needs to be developed (Matonti et al. 2026).
- Optimal launch vehicles and strategies need to be developed (Matonti et al. 2026).
Cost
Version published:
July 26, 2026 - 12:43am
- Future costs will depend on technology that is rapidly developing and is difficult to estimate (Baum et al. 2022).
Environmental risks / benefits
Version published:
June 30, 2026 - 9:17pm
- More climate modeling is needed to understand the impacts of sunshades, particularly in regard to uneven changes in temperature and rainfall (Baum et al. 2022).
- More climate modeling is needed to understand the impacts of sunshades, particularly in regard to uneven changes in temperature and rainfall (Baum et al. 2022).
Governance
Version published:
June 30, 2026 - 9:20pm
- How could R&D and deployment be collaboratively and effectively governed (Baum et al. 2022)? Global governance is necessary for successful and ethical deployment of a sunshade system (Matonti et al. 2026).
- Who would decide to deploy a sunshade (C2G 2021 Evidence Brief, Matonti et al. 2026)?
- Who should be considered a stakeholder in SRM experiments, and how can governance ensure equitable participation in decision-making (Co-CREATE 2025)?
- How much cooling might be appropriate (C2G 2021 Evidence Brief)?
- How would the system be managed, monitored, and maintained (Matonti et al. 2026)?
- How would liability for (perceived) damages be dealt with and how might ‘losers’ be compensated (C2G 2021 Evidence Brief, Matonti et al. 2026)?
- How could R&D and deployment be collaboratively and effectively governed (Baum et al. 2022)? Global governance is necessary for successful and ethical deployment of a sunshade system (Matonti et al. 2026).
- Who would decide to deploy a sunshade (C2G 2021 Evidence Brief, Matonti et al. 2026)?
- Who should be considered a stakeholder in SRM experiments, and how can governance ensure equitable participation in decision-making (Co-CREATE 2025)?
- How much cooling might be appropriate (C2G 2021 Evidence Brief)?
- How would the system be managed, monitored, and maintained (Matonti et al. 2026)?
- How would liability for (perceived) damages be dealt with and how might ‘losers’ be compensated (C2G 2021 Evidence Brief, Matonti et al. 2026)?
- How could R&D and deployment be collaboratively and effectively governed (Baum et al. 2022)?
- Who would decide to deploy SRM (C2G 2021 Evidence Brief)?
- Who should be considered a stakeholder in SRM experiments, and how can governance ensure equitable participation in decision-making (Co-CREATE 2025)?
- How much cooling might be appropriate (C2G 2021 Evidence Brief)?
- How would liability for (perceived) damages be dealt with and how might ‘losers’ be compensated (C2G 2021 Evidence Brief)?
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