China has constructed a research facility that simulates the Moon’s low-gravity that will be reportedly launched in the next few months.
The facility, located in Xuzhou, is thought to be the first of its kind, using magnets to create a Moon-like environment, according to the South China Morning Post.
A vacuum chamber inside the facility houses a small ‘moon’ with a fake landscape made up of rocks similar to those found on the lunar surface.
The low-gravity effect in the facility is believed to be more long-lasting than if achieving the same environment via aircraft or a drop tower, which is temporary.
The facility could help boost China’s space ambitions by allowing experts a chance to explore a number of possibilities, including building infrastructure on the Moon, lead scientist Li Ruilin of China University of Mining and Technology told SCMP in an interview.
