The artificial satellite, according to media reports, will appear in 2020 and will be nine times brighter than the real moon. However, experts doubt that the project is technically feasible.
Already in 2020, another moon will appear in the sky over China - an artificial one, writes "People's Daily". According to the publication, an artificial satellite that reflects sunlight will be nine times brighter than the real moon. This should eliminate the need for lanterns in some parts of the country.
The diameter of the light spot from the new moon will be adjustable - from 10 to 80 kilometers. Among the developers is the Chinese Institute for Research of Microelectronic Systems for Space.
The technical conditions for the implementation of the idea, as the Chinese say, are already ready. At the same time, they assure that the light from the satellite will not disturb people and animals, since its brightness will be approximately the same as at dusk.
The main problems of the artificial moon project are its high cost, the complexity of putting into orbit and installing mirrors, as well as their guidance, taking into account the space debris flying in the earth's orbit. Technically, the project is too expensive and practically impracticable, says Ivan Moiseev, scientific director of the Institute for Space Policy:
A similar project is being prepared for launch by SpaceX. In November, Falcon 9 will launch an object made of heat-resistant film into orbit. At an altitude of 560 kilometers, it will unfold and take the form of a stele. This mini satellite, about 30 meters long, will shine in the night sky, reflecting sunlight.
SpaceX does not pursue any practical goal: the company positions its brainchild exclusively as an art object. The project, worth just over a million dollars, was implemented with private donations. The lunar stele can be seen with the naked eye. True, for a relatively short time: it will flicker for only about three months. Then the orbital reflector will descend into the dense layers of the atmosphere and burn up.