China wants to illuminate its streets with artificial moons

Chengdu – Artificial moons could light the skies of the southwestern city of Chengdu by 2020, eliminating the need for street lights.

A proposal by the Tian Fu New Area Science Society plans to launch an ‘illumination satellite’ that would orbit above the city and shine eight times brighter than the moon. The society’s leader, Wu Chunfeng, also plans to launch three more satellites by 2022, which could replace street lights in urban areas.

Chunfeng says the satellite will orbit about 300 miles above the city and use a mirror-like coating to reflect sunlight down to Earth. The project aims to cut down on costly street lights, which would save the city an estimated £133m (Rmb1.2bn, $174m, €152m) each year.

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