Harbin Institute Scientists Outline Lunar Laser Power Network for Dark Craters in Peer-Reviewed Study
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Jul 12
Harbin Institute Scientists Outline Lunar Laser Power Network for Dark Craters in Peer-Reviewed Study
2 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Jul 12
Summary
Harbin Institute of Technology researchers detailed an optimized lunar laser power transmission network that would beam electricity to rovers operating inside permanently shadowed craters.
Solar-powered stations on nearby sunlit peaks would send laser energy across the lunar surface, reducing reliance on long cables or heavy onboard batteries in areas where sunlight never reaches.
The strategy was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Deep Space Exploration, giving a formal blueprint for wireless power use in future moon missions.
The team is also affiliated with two national key laboratories focused on laser spatial information and aerospace mechanisms, underscoring the work's relevance to China's broader lunar and space technology ambitions.
Is China's laser power network the key to unlocking the Moon's valuable water ice before international rivals can claim it?
Beyond just rovers, could this laser grid create a wireless power network for the first self-sustaining city on the Moon?
As Russia plans a lunar nuclear plant, can China's laser grid win the race to power the first permanent moon base?
Powering the Lunar South Pole: Breakthrough Laser Network Promises 99% Connectivity for Moon’s Darkest Regions
Overview
A new study from the Harbin Institute of Technology introduces a terrain-aware lunar laser power network to solve the challenge of providing continuous energy, especially in the Moon’s Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs). These regions, found at the lunar south pole, are important because they may contain water ice, which is vital for future exploration and resource use. The south pole’s unique environment has made it a key target for major space missions. By enabling reliable power in these dark areas, the proposed network could support long-term scientific research and human presence on the Moon.