China is planning to launch it's own 'Artificial Moon' by 2020 to replace streetlamps and lower electricity costs in urban areas.
Illumination Satellites
Illumination Satellites
- Chengdu, a city in southwestern Sichuan province, is developing "Illumination Satellites" which will shine eight times brighter than the real moon.
- The first man-made moon will launch from Xichang Satellite launch Center in Sichuan, with tree more to follow in 2022 if the first test goes well.
- Thought the first launch will be experimental, the 2022 satellites will be the real seal with great civic and commercial potential.
- The artificial moon would work as a mirror, reflecting sunlight back to Earth, according to China Daily.
- It would orbit 500 km about Earth - roughly the same height as the International Space Station. The Moon orbits, on average, about 380000 km above Earth.
- The reports gave no details about what the fake moon would look like, but Mr Wu said ti would reflect sunlight across an area of between 10 km and 80 km with brightness "eight times" that of the real Moon.
- Some said it will surely confuse nocturnal animals, while others say that many cities in China already suffer from light pollution.
- The moon would significantly increase the night-time brightness of an already light-polluted city, creating problems for Chengdu's resident who are unable to screen out the unwanted light.
- If the light is too strong "it will disrupt the night cycle of nature and this could possibly affect animals"
The Russians Came Up With The Idea
- In 1993, Russian scientists released a 20m-wide reflector from a supply ship heading to the Mir Space Station, which was orbiting at between 200 km and 42 km.
- Znamya 2 briefly beamed a spot of light about 5 km in diameter to Earth. The marched across Europe at 8 Km/hr, before the satellite burned up on re-entry.
