China has unveiled plans to launch its own “artificial moon” to replace its streetlights in just over a year’s time, according to media reports.
An illumination satellite, designed to complement light from the real moon, may be launched in the south-western city of Chengdu in 2020. The artificial moon will be able to light up an area with a diameter of 10 to 80 kilometres, with the range being controlled within tens of meters. It said that Wu Chunfeng, chairman of the Chengdu aerospace science and technology microelectronics system research institute, suggested it is now ready after testing began years ago. Announcing the news on October 10, Mr Chunfeng said that the illumination satellite would be eight times brighter than the actual moon and would be bright enough to replace street lighting.
The artificial moon would have a “dusk-like-glow”, an audience at a national mass innovation and entrepreneurship event held in Chengdu last week heard. The inspiration for the satellite came from a French artist who “imagined hanging a necklace made of mirrors above the earth” which could reflect sunshine. Roughly 14.5 million people live in Chengdu, one of the three most populous cities in western China. Kang Weimin, director of the Institute of Optics, School of Aerospace, Harbin Institute of Technology, said people should not be concerned about animal’s being affected. He said the satellite light will be like a “twilight glow” and will not affect the routine of animals.
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