The race for space exploration is heating up, with major powers focusing on establishing bases on the moon to help operate beyond the International Space Station (ISS). As the United States is recalibrating its strategy to return humans to the moon, China is not far behind. Its scientists have created an “artificial moon” on Earth to test technology and equipment in low gravity. Located in eastern Jiangsu province, the facility is expected to provide important research for China’s lunar exploration missions. It may launch soon, but no date has been set.

The gravitational force of the moon is one-sixth that of the earth. However, despite Earth’s greater appeal, developing such an environment here makes a lot of sense and could advance lunar exploration exponentially. NASA is currently training its astronauts to manage themselves in microgravity during parabolic flight.

The Chinese facility is said to replicate the low-gravity environment for a long time. This will allow Chinese astronauts to rely less on parabolic flight to train themselves or low-gravity environments to test new rovers and technologies. Li Ruilin, chief scientist at China University of Mining and Technology, told the South China Morning Post that “although it is possible to achieve low gravity in a plane or a drop tower, it is only temporary.” Li said the simulator they are building can do “as long as you want”. Provides low gravity.

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