China proposes laser-powered energy tower near moon’s south pole to transmit wireless power 60%
By Bojan Stojkovski88%
7/12/2026, 1:07:00 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 18 faulty reasoning types, including Optimism Bias, Framing Effect, and Overconfidence Bias, with Appeal to Authority as the most egregious example at 26.3% saturation with 158 hits. Analysis detected 1,115 faulty-reasoning hits from 600 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 56.1% and a BS Rank of 60% (8,805 of 21,887 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 59.80% of the article peer group.
Researchers in China are proposing that the moon could become the first place where wireless power transmission is used in a practical setting.
The concept centers on the lunar south pole, a region where elevated crater rims receive almost continuous sunlight while nearby permanently shadowed craters remain in darkness and are believed to contain significant deposits of water ice.
Rather than depending on long power cables or carrying heavy battery systems, lunar rovers operating inside these dark craters would receive energy via laser beams transmitted from solar-powered stations installed on the sunlit peaks above.
According to scientists from the Harbin Institute of Technology, the approach could provide a more efficient way to power exploration missions in some of the moon’s most challenging and scientifically valuable environments.
New research details how a lunar laser power grid could work
In a peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Deep Space Exploration , the researchers presented an optimized deployment strategy for a laser-based power transmission network designed for the lunar surface.
The study was led by scientists from the Harbin Institute of Technology, who are also affiliated with the National Key Laboratory of Laser Spatial Information and the National Key Laboratory of Aerospace Mechanism.
Both institutions play a strategic role in advancing China’s aerospace research, with expertise spanning laser technologies, space systems, and next-gen engineering for future lunar exploration missions, the South China Morning Post writes .
The researchers said their findings could help lay the groundwork for future lunar research stations and their supporting energy infrastructure.
According to the study, repositioning laser transmission stations by about 330 feet increased the network’s effective coverage by more than 35%, while making the powered areas almost fully connected.
The proposal comes as China and the US intensify their efforts to establish a sustained human and scientific presence on the moon, with the lunar south pole becoming the primary destination for both NASA’s Artemis program and China’s Chang’e missions.
The region is considered especially attractive because its elevated ridges receive prolonged periods of sunlight, while its permanently shadowed craters are believed to contain water ice, making it a key location for scientific research, in-situ resource utilization, and the development of future lunar bases.
Powering rovers where sunlight cannot reach
Powering equipment in the moon’s permanently shadowed regions remains a major challenge for future missions, as rovers operating in these craters cannot rely on solar panels, while batteries may not provide enough endurance for extended exploration.
The proposed system would use solar arrays on sunlit ridges to generate laser beams , transmitting energy to rover-mounted receivers that convert the light back into electricity.
The proposed system would rely on multiple interconnected stations, creating a network that allows rovers to move between powered areas without needing large onboard batteries.
Instead of choosing locations only based on sunlight availability, the Harbin researchers used statistical modelling to identify the best deployment points for maximizing energy coverage and maintaining strong network connectivity.
The Chinese researchers said their optimisation approach created a continuous and stable laser power supply network.
To test the concept, the team used NASA’s Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter data from the area around Shackleton crater, one of the most important locations for future lunar missions.
The model increased effective energy coverage from nearly 18% to more than 24%, while improving regional connectivity from below 40% to almost 100%.
Simulations showed that over a distance of about 3 miles, the system could still provide enough power to support rover operations in permanently shadowed areas of the moon.
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