Advancing In-Space Manufacturing for Climate Mitigation: A Modular and Scalable Facility Concept for Sunshade Production

As global temperatures continue to rise at an alarming rate, with the past decade being the warmest on record, urgent action is required to mitigate the catastrophic effects of climate change. These effects include more frequent and severe extreme weather events, rising sea levels threatening coastal communities, and widespread ecosystem disruption. Traditional mitigation efforts, while crucial, have proven insufficient to meet the ambitious goals set by the Paris Agreement. In this context, innovative solutions like space-based Solar Radiation Management (SRM) are gaining attention as potential complementary strategies to buy time for more comprehensive climate action. The International Planetary Sunshade (IPSS) project represents a visionary approach to climate mitigation that necessitates significant advancements in space technology and infrastructure. The IPSS concept proposes an evolutionary design for sunshades manufactured and assembled in space, aiming to achieve a controlled reduction of solar radiation while considering regional and seasonal variations. The currently ongoing system analysis of the IPSS system focuses on the development of a cutting-edge In-space Manufacturing and Assembly (ISMA) facility concept, crucial for realizing large-scale sunshade production for the IPSS system. Our research addresses several key challenges in space technology development and demonstrates how advanced engineering techniques can revolutionize the design and implementation of large-scale space projects. Our ISMA facility design represents a modular and scalable approach to constructing sunshades for climate change mitigation and space-based solar power generation. The facility is designed to be located at strategic points such as Earth-Moon Lagrange points 1 or 2 (EML1 and EML2) or directly at the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 1 (SEL1), offering advantages such as constant illumination, good accessibility, and minimal space debris. An integrated Connected Engineering approach is used, combining Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Model-Based Engineering (MBE) to create a parametric 3D model of the ISMA facility. In addition, a Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) is performed to support the development of a comprehensive model of the ISMA facility concept. Synera, a low-code engineering platform, is utilized for data management and automation across different engineering domains. The developed IPSS workflow applied to the ISMA model ensures consistency and efficiency across the project. This integrated approach allows for rapid iteration, improved communication among stakeholders, and enhanced system-level optimization. The manufacturing and assembly processes of the ISMA facility are simulated using a DES model developed with JaamSim. This model is parameterized using data from the Synera model, enabling rapid scenario testing and performance evaluation. Additionally, a parametric 3D model of the ISMA facility is developed using Siemens NX and linked to the Synera model for dynamic visualization and spatial analysis.