China wants to launch an artificial moon by 2020 and these are its risks

According to Science Fiction, Chinese engineers have an ambitious plan to orbit the first artificial moon of humanity. This huge artifact would aim to brighten the Chengdu city, one of the three most populous in the country, and save about $ 173 million a year for the government.

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The project was presented this month at an innovation fair during which Wu Chunfeng, chairman of Chengdu Research Institute for Microelectronic Systems for Aerospace Science and Technology. (Casc), clarified that this fake satellite would be designed to complement the illumination of the moon, although its brightness would be 8 times greater than that of our only natural satellite.

"The satellite can light an area of ​​a diameter of 10 to 80 kilometers, while the scope of lighting can be controlled remotely with a computer," said the man. business.

This is not the first time that this type of satellite is proposed. Indeed, tests have been made with devices of this type, but it is until now that the technology makes it possible to propose a real project. Even Chunfeng plans to put the first satellite into orbit in 2020. If its results are positive, three more could be launched in space in 2022. The aircraft will be about 500 kilometers from Earth.

Could an artificial moon affect us?

According to astrophysicist Alejandro Sánchez, quoted by the newspaper El Comercio in Ecuador, the main victims would be astronomical observation, plants and animals.

For the observatories, Sanchez says that the light caused by these types of moons could block the scientific observation of the celestial vault. And could the light charge of the artifact, 8 times greater than that of our Moon, leave without opportunity the instruments that occupy the observatories to record astronomical phenomena.

He also pointed out that the artificial moon could have a significant impact on the ecosystems surrounding Chengdu, as much of the local wildlife might rely on nocturnal photosynthesis, which would alter their growth cycles and shorten them due to premature flowering potential. ; which would prevent them from getting ready for the winter.

The same goes for animals, because many species use penumbra as a refuge, even as part of their hunting or survival strategy. This light would alter this behavior and would have significant impacts on food and the rest of the local wildlife.