China plans to launch artificial "moon" to illuminate urban areas

By AFP

China plans to launch its own "artificial moon" by 2020 to replace urban lighting and reduce electricity costs in cities, the state press reported Friday.

Chengdu, a city in southwestern Sichuan Province, is developing "bright satellites" that will illuminate next to the real moon, but will be eight times brighter, according to the China Daily.

First artificial "moon" to be launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuansaid Wu Chunfeng, responsible for the organization responsible for the project, the Science Society in the new Tian Fu region. If the first launch is successful, three more will be launched in 2022, he added.

The first launch will be experimental, but satellites launched in 2022 "will be real" and will have "great civic and commercial potential," Wu said in an interview with China Daily.

By reflecting sunlight, satellites can replace urban lighting in cities or agglomerations, saving about 1.2 billion yuan a year (170 million USD). In electricity in Chengdu city, when the artificial moon will illuminate an area of ​​50 km2, said the official.

The extraterrestrial light source can also contribute to relief operations in areas affected by disasters and power cuts.

AFP was unable to contact Wu or the Tian Fu New Space Science Society to confirm this information.

China is not the first country to try to capture the sunlight. In the 90s, Russian scientists would have used giant mirrors to reflect the light of space, as part of an experimental project called Znamya or Banner.