Conceptual Design and Feasibility Assessment of Deployable Reflective Membrane Arrays for Space-Based Solar Radiation Management - Thesis

[Geoengineering News]

https://webthesis.biblio.polito.it/40879/

Authors: Francesca Giacoma

Abstract 

Climate change represents one of the most significant global challenges of the twenty-first century, motivating the investigation of innovative approaches capable of complementing conventional greenhouse gas mitigation strategies. Among the various geoengineering concepts proposed in recent decades, Space-Based Solar Radiation Management (SB-SRM) has emerged as a potential long-term solution aimed at reducing the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth through dedicated space infrastructures. This thesis investigates the potential application of Deployable Reflective Membrane Arrays as a candidate architecture for Space-Based Solar Radiation Management operating near the Sun--Earth L1 Lagrange point. The work begins with an overview of space sails and deployable membrane technologies, including solar sails, solar power sails, electric sails, magnetic sails, drag sails, deployable membrane antennas, and other large-area membrane systems. Particular attention is devoted to Deployable Membrane Reflectors (DMRs), focusing on their operating principles, membrane materials, deployment mechanisms, structural architectures, and technological heritage. The analysis highlights the role of lightweight deployable structures in enabling large functional surfaces while maintaining low mass and compact launch configurations. Building upon this technological background, a review of Space-Based Solar Radiation Management concepts proposed in the literature is performed. Candidate architectures, including monolithic sunshades, distributed particle clouds, spacecraft swarms, and membrane-based systems, are analysed to identify their principal advantages, limitations, and technological requirements. A structured trade-off process is subsequently conducted to evaluate the different concepts according to mission-oriented criteria such as effectiveness, scalability, technological maturity, deployment complexity, and operational robustness. The selected architecture is then developed through a preliminary mission design process. Mission objectives, orbit selection, membrane sizing methodologies, spacecraft configuration, deployment strategies, structural layouts, and formation architectures are defined at a conceptual level. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of deployable membrane technologies, support structures, and attitude-control systems within a distributed spacecraft architecture operating near the Sun--Earth L1 point. The final part of the thesis focuses on the engineering feasibility of the proposed concept. Preliminary mass and power budgets are established, launch and deployment requirements are examined, station-keeping considerations are discussed, and the maturity of the enabling technologies is assessed. In addition, the principal challenges associated with large-scale membrane deployment, structural stability, autonomous formation control, manufacturing scalability, and long-term operation in the space environment are identified. Through this multidisciplinary analysis, the thesis provides a preliminary framework for the assessment of Deployable Reflective Membrane Arrays as a potential enabling technology for future Space-Based Solar Radiation Management systems and establishes a foundation for further investigations into large-scale space-based climate mitigation infrastructures.

Source: Politecnico di Torino, 2026