Sunset Makers
Startup Launches Sulfur Dioxide Into the Sky — EPA Demands Answers
Breaking: A startup has been launching sulfur dioxide into the sky, calling it climate tech. The company, Make Sunsets, says its goal is to cool the planet by using a form of solar geoengineering. The idea is to reflect sunlight back into space, similar to how volcanic eruptions can temporarily lower global temperatures.
But the Environmental Protection Agency has raised concerns. In April, it sent a formal request for information to Make Sunsets, asking for details about its operations. The agency says it’s unclear where the balloons are being launched, where the sulfur dioxide is sourced, and whether the company has worked with any local or federal regulators. The company’s website claims over 120 launches so far.
Yes, you read that right. A two-person startup is deliberately releasing a regulated air pollutant into the stratosphere — and until recently, no one in government seemed to care.
Now, the EPA is paying attention. And what happens next could set the rules for an entire new frontier of climate intervention.
One of Make Sunsets' stratospheric balloons before launch. Credit: Make Sunsets
What Is Make Sunsets Actually Doing?
Founded in 2022 by Luke Iseman and Andrew Song, Make Sunsets fills party-sized weather balloons with helium and a few grams of sulfur dioxide (SO₂). The balloons ascend to about 66,000 feet — well into the stratosphere — then burst, releasing the gas.
Once there, SO₂ reacts with water vapor and oxygen to form tiny sulfate aerosols. These particles act like a mirror, reflecting a fraction of incoming sunlight back to space. It’s the same natural process that cooled the planet after the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption by about 0.5°C for over a year.
Make Sunsets claims each launch offsets thousands of tons of CO₂ warming. They’ve completed over 120 launches and just conducted three more on October 30, 2025 — complete with video proof on X.
Why the EPA Is Involved
Sulfur dioxide is no joke. It’s been regulated under the Clean Air Act since 1971 because at ground level, it causes lung irritation, asthma attacks, acid rain, and haze.
On April 14, 2025, the EPA sent Make Sunsets a formal demand for information — essentially a regulatory subpoena. The agency wanted to know:
- Exact launch locations
- Source of the SO₂
- Total amount released
- Any coordination with FAA, NOAA, or local officials
The startup responded with a 20-page letter in May, claiming compliance with the Weather Modification Reporting Act and notifying the FAA before each flight. They also pointed out they’ve been banned from operating in Mexico since early 2023 — not for safety, they say, but due to political pressure.
As of today, no fines, no shutdown order — but the EPA says it’s reviewing “all enforcement options.”
The Science: It Works — But Should We Do It?
The physics are sound. Stratospheric sulfate aerosols do cool the planet. The question is: at what cost?
| Make Sunsets Claims | Scientific Concerns |
|---|---|
| Releases too high to affect air quality | Ozone layer damage, acid rain risk |
| Biodegradable balloons, minimal SO₂ | Could alter rainfall patterns in Asia/Africa |
| Offsets emissions from 1,200+ cars per launch | “Termination shock” if stopped suddenly |
| Emissions cuts failing → need a Plan B | Distracts from real decarbonization |
Experts like Alan Robock warn that scaling this up could dry out monsoons, shift hurricanes, or trigger rapid warming if injections ever stop. The National Academies call it a “high-risk, high-reward” option — but only with global governance.
This Isn’t Just One Startup
Make Sunsets is the loudest, but not the only player:
- Stardust Solutions (Israel): Testing calcium carbonate dust
- UK Government: £60M in marine cloud brightening research
- China: Routine weather modification over 5.5 million km²
Meanwhile, 20+ U.S. states are pushing “geoengineering bans” — some based on science, others fueled by chemtrail fears.
What Happens Next?
The EPA’s next move will be a precedent:
- Will they issue fines under the Clean Air Act?
- Force a consent decree?
- Or draft the first U.S. rules for solar geoengineering?
Globally, the UN is debating governance. Locally, Make Sunsets just hit customer #994 and is prepping launch #1,000.
We are in uncharted territory.
A startup with $1.2 million in funding and a few hundred balloons is testing planetary cooling — without permits, without consensus, and now, without silence from regulators.
The atmosphere doesn’t belong to any one company. But if global emissions don’t drop fast enough, more will try to claim it.
The question isn’t just can we cool the planet this way.
It’s should we — and who decides?
Sources & Further Reading
- "EPA Demands Answers from Unregulated Geoengineering Start-Up Launching Sulfur Dioxide into the Air" – US EPA, April 15, 2025
- EPA Targets Two-Person Geoengineering Startup – Inside Climate News, April 24, 2025
- Government Action on Geoengineering – US EPA, July 9, 2025
- Make Sunsets Official Website – Claims over 120 launches
- Make Sunsets on X – Latest launch videos and updates
- EPA Demands Info from Solar Geoengineering Company – E&E News, April 16, 2025
Comments
Post a Comment