Scientists are about to put an artificial moon into orbit

The first artificial moon in the world is expected to be in orbit in less than two years.

Chinese scientists hope to have the moon, a satellite designed to complement the moon and illuminate city streets by 2020.

The moon will have a reflective coating that returns sunlight to the Earth, making it shine in the same way as the moon.

The China Daily announces that the artificial moon will be put into orbit by the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, above Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.

It is planned to orbit about 310 miles above the Earth. It's about 235,000 miles closer than the real moon. For this reason, it is expected that it will shine eight times more than the moon.

"This is not enough to light the whole sky," said Wu Chungfeng, chairman of the new Tian Fu Science Society in Chengdu. "The expected brightness, in the eyes of humans, is about one-fifth of normal street lights."

It will brighten enough to provide additional lighting during the breakdowns of the disaster area, bringing the help and help needed by rescuers.

According to the China Daily, the beam position and brightness can be changed, which will become a way to replace some streetlights in urban areas, thus saving energy – about $ 174 million per year in town. from Chengdu.

Although several universities and institutes gave their agreement after evaluation to this project developed by the man, Wu nevertheless made some criticisms, evoking the possibility of physiological consequences for man and animals. He added that the lack of regular night / day alternation could disrupt metabolic patterns, including sleep.

He stated that the test phases were taking place in an uninhabited desert.

"Our light beams will not interfere with anyone or with any Earth-based space-based observation equipment," said Wu. "When the satellite is operational, people will not see anything but the light. a bright star above and not an imagined giant moon. "

He added that there was still work to be done, but that the moon that should be in orbit in 2020 is simply experimental.

"Three moons in 2022 will be the real deal with great civic and commercial potential," Wu said.

He stated that many countries, including the United States, were seeking to harness the energy of space, and that reflective mirrors had long been under discussion to do so.

What do you think of artificial moons? Could it be the answer to high energy costs? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Graham Media Group 2018