The Chinese plan to launch a "fake moon"

The idea of China building a "fake moon" or an artificial moon to reflect light back to Earth was indeed reported in 2018. The plan was part of a larger effort by the Chinese city of Chengdu to launch an illumination satellite. The goal was to create a satellite that would orbit about 500 kilometers (310 miles) above Earth and illuminate an area of about 50 square kilometers (19 square miles) on the ground, particularly at night.

The initial reports suggested that the illumination satellite would be eight times as bright as the real moon. This brightness was aimed to assist with things like street lighting and lower electricity costs in urban areas.

However, as of my last update in January 2022, there hasn't been any news or updates on whether this project was successfully launched or if it was halted or modified. It's important to note that ambitious space projects like these often undergo changes in plans, timelines, or even cancellations due to various reasons such as technological challenges, funding issues, or strategic shifts in priorities.

For the most current and accurate information, it's best to refer to recent news sources or official statements from the Chinese government or space agencies.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model