Editing Hermann Oberth (section)

=== Space Mirror ===
In 1923, Oberth initially outlined the concept of his space mirrors in his book ''Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen'' (''The Rocket to Interplanetary Space''). These mirrors, with diameters ranging from 100 to 300&nbsp;km, were envisioned to be composed of a grid network consisting of individually adjustable facets.

Oberth's concept of space mirrors in orbit around the Earth serves the purpose of focusing sunlight on specific regions of the planet's surface or redirecting it into space. This approach differs from creating shaded areas at the Lagrange point between the Earth and the Sun, as it does not involve diminishing solar radiation across the entire exposed surface. According to Oberth, these colossal orbital mirrors possess the potential to illuminate individual cities, safeguard against natural disasters, manipulate weather patterns and climate, and even create additional living space for billions of people. He places significant emphasis on their capacity to influence the trajectories of barometric high and low-pressure areas. However, it is important to acknowledge that the implementation of such [[climate engineering]] interventions, including space mirrors, requires further extensive research before their practical applicability can be fully realized.

Further publications followed in which he took into account the technical progress achieved up to that point: ''Ways to Spaceflight'' (1929), ''Menschen im Weltraum. Neue Projekte für Raketen-und Raumfahrt'' (''People in Space. New Projects for Rocket and Space'', 1957), and ''Der Weltraumspiegel'' (''The Space Mirror'', 1978).

To optimize costs, Oberth's concept proposes the utilization of lunar minerals for producing components on the Moon. The Moon's lower gravitational pull necessitates less energy for launching these components into lunar orbit. Additionally, the Earth's atmosphere is spared the burden of numerous rocket launches. The envisioned process involves launching the components from the lunar surface into lunar orbit using an electromagnetic lunar slingshot, subsequently "stacking" them at a 60° libration point. These components could then be transported into orbit via electric spaceships, designed by Oberth with minimal recoil. Once in orbit, the components would be assembled into mirrors with diameters ranging from 100 to 300&nbsp;km. Oberth's estimate in 1978 suggested that the realization of this concept could occur between 2018 and 2038.

Oberth emphasized that these mirrors could potentially serve as weapons. Given this aspect, coupled with the complexity of the project, the realization of these mirrors would only be feasible as a peace initiative undertaken by humanity.<ref name="Oberth_a"/><ref name="Oberth_b"/>{{rp|87–88}}<ref name="Oberth_c">{{Cite book |last=Oberth |first=Hermann |date=1957 |title=Menschen im Weltraum |language=german |publisher=Econ Duesseldorf Germany |pages=177–506}}</ref><ref name="Oberth_d">{{Cite book |last=Oberth |first=Hermann |date=1957 |title=Man into Space |language=en |publisher=Harper&Brothers |pages=125–182}}</ref><ref name="Oberth_e">{{Cite book |last=Oberth |first=Hermann |date=1978 |title=Der Weltraumspiegel |language=german |publisher=Kriterion Bucharest}}</ref>

In 2023, the space mirror devised by Oberth is categorized within the field of Climate Engineering, specifically under Solar Radiation Management (SRM) as a subset of Space-Mirrors. The associated risks of these deliberate interventions in weather and climate are also examined and deliberated upon within this classification.