Topic: China Launching an Artificial Moon (Read 575 times)
Crazy times indeed. What was China thinking? I'm curious to know how they think we need a second, artificial moon. They've got big budget for AI, why not use it to prevent global warming? Or clean the ocean? Crazy times, indeed.
I'm only opposed to the artificial aspect of this moon. I want to launch an all-natural, non-GMO, organic, locally sourced, whole-motherfriggen-wheat Moon. It's just wrong to launch that kind of chem-trail leaking piece of plastic. Think of the children.
Also, an associate professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Texas has confirmed my initial post: it's simply not possible. An orbit at 300miles moves far too fast to light up a city for any appreciable length of time, and a geosynchronous orbit is too far away to light up anything.
Thanks for that, it's been a while since I've heard such nonsense from a professor of hard science.Quote from: Prof. Ryan Russell
The article I read implied you could hover a satellite over a particular city, which of course is not possible.
I'd very much like to see this article. No article I've read on the subject says any such thing.Quote from: Unsourced assertion implied but not actually stated to be from a "satellite expert"
At a distance of just 300 miles the moon would whip around the Earth at thousands of miles per hour, beaming its light on any one place for only a fraction of a second.
Yeah, that's why the Hubble telescope pictures were all blurry until they realised how easy it is to adjust the satellite's rotation speed to track a moving target. 
New details have emerged: http://www.astronomy.com/news/2018/10/why-chinas-artificial-moon-probably-wont-work
First of all, it's not "China" as in the Chinese Government or the China National Space Administration, but one random Chinese researcher. Also, an associate professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Texas has confirmed my initial post: it's simply not possible. An orbit at 300miles moves far too fast to light up a city for any appreciable length of time, and a geosynchronous orbit is too far away to light up anything.
First of all, it's not "China" as in the Chinese Government or the China National Space Administration, but one random Chinese researcher. Also, an associate professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Texas has confirmed my initial post: it's simply not possible. An orbit at 300miles moves far too fast to light up a city for any appreciable length of time, and a geosynchronous orbit is too far away to light up anything.
Astronomy Magazine recently published a post why this artificial moon wouldn't work, and one of the biggest challenges that it poses is that it wouldn't be able to stay in place. Also, China has to consider whether people do want it or not, plus, it might have an effect on nocturnal animals. Did China ever consider that? With a budget solely for AI like China has, you'd think they'll come up with something worthwhile. I don't think this is it. Plus, what if it backfired? I'm not ready to live down the movie Geostorm.
I mean, it's still a crazy idea, but not quite as crazy as one might expect for something conceived of by a Bond villain.
What about a giant magnifying glass instead of a mirror? They could aim it at people and burn them like ants or aim them at solar panels!
If there is such a weapon, I think it might be stupid because you only need a mirror to reflect its energy and destroy it with reflected light.
Crazy times, indeed. Unless this artificial moon will shine only in China, I don't think it's such a good idea. Plus, of all the things they could spend they AI funds on, they chose an artificial moon? What were they thinking?
In fact, this technology is of little use to real life. I think China is doing this to show the world its space technology. Similarly, their ambitious moon landing plan is also for this purpose.
Of course, if China finds some kind of resources on the moon, things will get interesting.
As far as I know, there are abundant iron ore and strontium-rich soil on the moon. this may be their purpose of exploring the moon.
Although I am against the use of the moon's resources, maybe one day we have to use them.
Crazy times, indeed. Unless this artificial moon will shine only in China, I don't think it's such a good idea. Plus, of all the things they could spend they AI funds on, they chose an artificial moon? What were they thinking?
China most probably did not even consider other creatures into consideration when they made this decision to do this. Not everyone sleeps at night. Not everyone sleeps in the morning. There are animals who thrive in the darkness. Humans being self-centered and selfish as usual.
Interesting! Would this moon capable of giving lights all over the world?
Africa needs such technology. we have the Money. China should run such a test project like that in Africa. Natural source of energy has been our surviving Hope down here.
Some people are worried about global warming... China is trying to reflect more sunlight onto the planet at night... brilliant
I think the reflected light will not have a significant impact on teperatury. Yes, and with a sufficient amount of reflected natural light, you can save on electricity.
Some people are worried about global warming... China is trying to reflect more sunlight onto the planet at night... brilliant
I've been to Shanghai half a year ago, believe me - ecology in China is already screwed up. You just can't see the horizon from any location, it's completely obscured by smog. I don't think Chinese government cares about ecology at all.
Quote
Wu estimated that new moons could save the city of Chengdu around 1.2 billion yuan ($173 million) in electricity costs annually, and could even assist first responders during blackouts and natural disasters. If the project proves successful, it could be joined by three more additions to the night sky in 2022, he said.
The motivation is there, but I wonder what kind of effect this will have on human health. Artificial light exposure is already bad enough as it is for people's circadian rhythms, which are responsible for various aspects of well-being and not dying an early death. Unfortunately, money is still perceived as having more worth more than achieving collective well-being.
Some people are worried about global warming... China is trying to reflect more sunlight onto the planet at night... brilliant
Secondly, street lights at night already play havoc with the local wildlife. Sea turtle hatchlings for example - their instinct is to follow the brightest light to reach the sea, which used to be the moon reflecting off the water. Now many of them die because instead they wander towards the towns and cities. Something like this could have devastating effects on the ecosystem.
I think this is a great point and one can only speculate about all the unintended consequences of something like this. I guess mankind's vision of the future doesn't include "wildlife" outside of zoos.
Hey guys how can China do this isn't the earth flat? 
the thread here says it is.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/flat-earth-1009045
and a 600 plus page thread must be right
the thread here says it is.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/flat-earth-1009045
and a 600 plus page thread must be right
Nobody said anything about a synchronous orbit, or even a singular satellite. The plan actually involves a constellation of multiple satellites.
If the orbit is not synchronous, then the mirror will spend only a tiny fraction of its time lighting up the intended target, and the majority of its time lighting up other places or nothing at all. I can't imagine the other countries in its path are going to be too happy about that, especially if it turns out to have significant impacts on wildlife. I certainly wouldn't be too happy about a massive spotlight passing over my house every hour and half every night.
There are obviously ways round this such as using propulsion to angle the mirror(s) away when not in right place, or closing and opening the mirrors as needed, but the article doesn't mention any of that. More information is needed.
Well...
Start by assuming you have three mirrors in the same orbit at 120 degrees separation, and each is slowly rotating. Below each the Earth is rotating, at about 800 miles per hour. You are only interested in the interactions on the night side, the side opposite the sun.
A satellite's mirror is effective only when from that point one can see both the city and the Sun. From the point of view of someone in the city, another pops up over the horizon every thirty minutes, and the prior one is 60 degrees above the opposite horizon. Then the prior one is dark. The new one can provide angled light until it rises to the point where the sun goes behind the curve of the earth. Meanwhile the Earth is turning so each new one that pops above the horizon lights the city for fewer and fewer minutes.
Offhand seems to me you'd get a couple hours of dim light like until midnight and a couple more hours in the morning like that, but the dead of night would still be dark. It's simple trig to figure it out.
Let's hope that this moon won't end up falling on their heads or colliding with some of our communication satellites. During the cold war Russians also had big dreams and were launching tons of junk into space that was later crashing everywhere. Some of them are still doing it.
https://www.space.com/6322-nuclear-powered-soviet-satellite-acts.html
https://www.space.com/6322-nuclear-powered-soviet-satellite-acts.html
Not bad. The first step towards the Dyson sphere.
I doubt this is a realistic project. Just because if it is light at night, then people will not be able to sleep properly. If there is too little light, then driving on roads will be difficult and dangerous. Rather, they make weapons under a strange pretext.
I doubt this is a realistic project. Just because if it is light at night, then people will not be able to sleep properly. If there is too little light, then driving on roads will be difficult and dangerous. Rather, they make weapons under a strange pretext.
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