After Sun, China builds 'artificial Moon' to mimic lunar environment on Earth - India Today

The country has now built an artificial moon facility that will simulate lunar conditions and the environment for scientists to test new tech and future missions.

The facility can replicate low gravity environments for as long as one wants, making China less dependent on zero-gravity planes to train astronauts, and environments to test new rovers and technologies.

The mini-moon is about two feet in diameter and the artificial surface has been made with rocks and dust that are as light as those on the moon.

It is worth mentioning that gravity on the Moon is not zero, it is one-sixth as powerful as the gravity on Earth due to the magnetic field.

With China already clearing the fourth phase of its lunar exploration program that will see the construction of a research station on the Moon and lunar exploration through future Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8 missions, the new facility will play a crucial part.

Beijing already has plans to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2030 as it continues the construction of its space station in Low Earth Orbit.

Li further told SCMP that the moon simulator could also be used to test whether new technology such as 3D printing could be used to build structures on the lunar surface.