Scientists To Install ‘Streetlights’ on the Moon
Scientists who will explore the Earth's satellite and stay there for a certain period of time want to have good lighting.
This is reported by Space.com.
Earlier, NASA experts predicted that people would live on the Moon this decade. But before that happens, light must appear there.
This is likely to become a reality soon, as space technology company Honeybee Robotics has received funding from the US government to build and install ‘streetlights’ that will work as solar panels.
The ‘streetlights‘ will be taller than the Statue of Liberty - their length will reach 100 metres; and massive to withstand a harsh lunar night.
They will accumulate solar energy during the lunar day, which is equal to two earthly weeks, to then illuminate the surrounding area with powerful spotlights during the lunar night.
According to the project's principal investigator, Vishnu Sanigepalli, the height of the lamps is crucial not only to see beyond the edges of the huge lunar craters, but also to raise scientific equipment, cameras, and communication devices to higher vantage points.
The base of each tower will be equipped with power adapters to recharge lunar rovers or other lunar infrastructure in the vicinity. If several towers can be placed in different parts of the lunar surface, this ‘network’ of lighthouses could serve as the first power grid on the Moon.
The company emphasises that their project is still under development, but there are already first successes.