Astrophysicists Propose Unconventional Idea: Using Moon Dust as a Sunshade to Combat Global Warming
Via Smithsonian Magazine
Summary
A team of astrophysicists published a study in February 2023 in PLOS Climate proposing an unconventional geoengineering strategy: launching millions of tons of lunar dust into space each year to act as a sunshade for Earth. The proposal involves mining dust on the Moon and propelling it toward a gravitationally stable point between Earth and the Sun, where it would remain for roughly a week before dispersing, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching Earth's surface by approximately 2%.
The team estimated this would require launching around 11 million tons of moon dust annually. The Moon's weak gravity makes launching material far more energy-efficient than sending it from Earth. The researchers were careful to frame the idea as exploratory rather than immediately actionable, positioning it as one potential tool in a broader toolkit for addressing climate change.
