Which Country is launching an Artificial Moon?

China has built a research facility that simulates low-gravity environment on the moon which will strengthen its lunar exploration activities.

Which Country is launching an Artificial Moon? / ph: pexels

China has built a research facility that simulates low-gravity environment on the moon which was inspired by experiments using magnets to lift a frog.

This facility could provide valuable research for China's lunar exploration activities. Located in the eastern city of Suzhou, in Jiangsu province, the simulation facility is expected to officially launch in the coming months.

This is is known to be the first of its kind in the world and will take lunar simulation to the next level.

According to scientist Li Ruilin from the University of Mines and Technology of China, the simulator can make gravity disappear for a period of time optionally.

While dropping towers or airplanes can only create gravity for a moment.

The project's lead scientist, Mr. Li Ruilin from the University of Mines and Technology of China got the idea from the experiments of Russian physicist - Andre Geim when he made a frog levitate using a magnet.

China is looking to take the lead in the space race with the United States. The lunar exploration project (Chang'e 5) is one of this country's stepping stones.

To follow in the footsteps, China wants to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030 and establish a lunar research facility which is join with Russia. Chinese space authorities say that construction of the research station could begin as early as 2027, many years earlier than planned, amid concerns that the US will set rules for future activities on the Moon. Nasa also plans to return astronauts to the moon by 2024 under the Artemis program.

The facility in Suzhou is expected to play a key role in China's future moon missions, including building infrastructure on the moon. It will allow scientists to test the instrument in a harsh lunar (simulating) environment where rock and dust can behave in a completely different way than on Earth in order to prevent costly miscalculations.

Simulating the harsh lunar environment on Earth is no easy task – the magnetic force needs to be so strong that it can tear apart components like superconducting wires. In addition, many of the metal components required for the vacuum chamber cannot function properly when placed near strong magnets.

The team has come up with a number of technical innovations to overcome these challenges including simulating lunar dust that could float more easily in magnetic fields and replacing steel with aluminum in some key components.

This Chinese research facility will be open to researchers from around the world.