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China researchers propose laser power for moon rovers at south pole
The plan would use laser beams from solar-powered stations on sunlit peaks to supply power to rovers exploring the moon’s south pole.
Researchers from the Harbin Institute of Technology say Nikola Tesla’s long-standing idea of wireless electricity could find an early test on the moon, where power could be delivered to future rovers without long cables or heavy batteries, according to a peer reviewed paper in the Journal of Deep Space Exploration.
The concept centers on the moon’s south pole, where crater rims receive near continuous sunlight while nearby areas remain in permanent shadow, the researchers say. They propose placing solar powered stations on nearby sunlit peaks and transmitting electricity via laser beams.
The study also outlines an optimized deployment strategy for a lunar laser power transmission network, laying out how the components could be positioned to support exploration in the challenging south pole terrain.
The Harbin Institute researchers are affiliated with China’s National Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information and the National Key Laboratory of Aerospace Mechanism, institutions described as important to the country’s broader aerospace development, the SCMP Economy notes.