Table of Contents
BASICS
China is planning to launch its own ‘artificial moon’ by 2020 to replace streetlamps and lower electricity costs in urban areas.
ILLUMINATION SATELLITES
- Chengdu, a city in southwestern Sichuan province, is developing “illumination satellites” which will shine eight times brighter than the real moon.
- The first man-made moon will launch from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan, with three more to follow in 2022 if the first test goes well.
- Though the first launch will be experimental, the 2022 satellites will be the real deal with great civic and commercial potential.
HOW MIGHT A ‘FAKE MOON’ WORK?
- The artificial moon would work as a mirror, reflecting sunlight back to Earth, according to China Daily.
- It would orbit 500km about Earth – roughly the same height as the International Space Station. The Moon orbits, on average, about 380,000km above Earth.
- The reports gave no details about what the fake moon would look like, but Mr Wu said it would reflect sunlight across an area of between 10km and 80km with brightness “eight times” that of the real Moon.
THE ISS
WHAT IMPACT WOULD THIS HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT?
- Some said it will surely confuse nocturnal animals, while others say that many cities in China already suffer from light pollution.
- The moon would significantly increase the night-time brightness of an already light-polluted city, creating problems for Chengdu’s residents who are unable to screen out the unwanted light
- If the light is too strong “it will disrupt the night cycle of nature and this could possibly affect animals”.
THE RUSSIANS CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
- n 1993, Russian scientists released a 20m-wide reflector from a supply ship heading to the Mir Space Station, which was orbiting at between 200km and 420km.
- Znamya 2 briefly beamed a spot of light about 5km in diameter to Earth. The light marched across Europe at 8km/hr, before the satellite burned up on re-entry.
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