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A private company from the Chinese city of Chengdu announced that it will launch an "artificial moon" – a lighting satellite – in 2020, which will be bright enough to replace streetlights, the People's Daily reported.
Wu Chunfeng, chairman of Chengdu Research Institute for Microelectronic Systems of Aerospace Science and Technology, announced the ambitious project at an innovation and entrepreneurship event held in Chengdu on the 10th October.
Wu claimed that the "artificial moon" would be eight times brighter than the natural moon. It can light an area with a diameter of 10 to 80 km. The tests of the "artificial moon" began two years ago and are almost over, Wu added. He added that this idea came from a French artist, who had imagined hanging a necklace of mirrors overhead. of the earth, to reflect the sunlight in the streets of Paris.
In a report released Friday by China Daily . said that the "artificial moon" will work like a mirror. It will gravitate around 500 km around the Earth and reflect the sunlight on the planet. There could be three huge "moons" by 2022, Wu said in an interview. "At that time, the three huge mirrors will divide the 360-degree orbital plane, illuminating an area for 24 hours continuously," he said. Reflected sunlight can cover an area of 3,600 km2 at 6,400 km2, added Wu.
He dismissed fears that the light of the "artificial moon" could have a negative impact on the daily routines of animals or make astronomical observations more difficult. Wu said that the light intensity and the lighting time of the device could be controlled.
He claimed that it would save a lot of money to the city. "Using an artificial moon to light up an area of 50 square kilometers can save 1.2 billion yuan [Rs 1,271 crore] of electrical charge," Wu said. "It can also illuminate power outage areas during natural disasters such as earthquakes. "
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