SPACE MIRROR
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:57 am
Designs for a space mirror to reduce global warming rely on expensive mini-mirrors with guidance motors. These would be difficult to get into place and maintain. Also, once in place there are no plans to remove them. What I propose is a simple, cheap mirror that has a short lifespan, so as not to endanger the future of the enviroment by lingering too long. A standard rocket is used, where the nose-cone contains a payload of a reflective powder, such as aluminium. A shaped charge in the centre and the design of the upper rocket stage will allow the powder to disperse in an expanding disc shape once deployed at the suitable position. This disc will reflect the sunlight, starting small and dense, and expanding to amuch wider reflective surface as the powder disc continues to expand. This will reduce the sunlight reaching the Earth, over a finite area and over a finite period. Eventually the particles of powder will continue to expand and disperse the disc entirely, thereby rendering the disc harmless to the future enviroment.
Reward: acknowledgement
Reward: acknowledgement