China Plans Tesla-Inspired Laser Power Network for the Moon

China Plans Lunar Laser Power Station to Revive Nikola Tesla’s Free Wireless Energy Dream

Chinese scientists have proposed a wireless laser power transmission system for the Moon. The concept is inspired by Nikola Tesla’s vision of transmitting electricity without wires. Researchers at the Harbin Institute of Technology believe laser technology could make that idea practical for future lunar missions.

The project focuses on the Moon’s south pole. Mountain peaks there receive sunlight for most of the year. Nearby permanently shadowed craters never receive direct sunlight. These craters are believed to contain valuable water ice for future exploration and lunar bases.

Under the proposal, solar-powered stations would be built on the sunlit peaks. They would convert electricity into high-powered laser beams. Those lasers would wirelessly send energy to rovers and scientific equipment operating inside the dark craters. This removes the need for long cables or heavy battery systems.

The research team has published an optimized deployment design in the Journal of Deep Space Exploration. Using NASA’s Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter data, the scientists optimized the placement of laser stations. Their simulations increased effective power coverage from 17.8% to 24.08%. Regional connectivity also improved from 38.69% to 99.29%.

The study estimates that a laser link spanning about 5 kilometers could deliver roughly 371 watts of optical power. Receivers on a rover could convert this into about 98 watts of electrical power. That would be enough to support many scientific instruments and robotic exploration tasks inside permanently shadowed regions.

Researchers also plan to combine wireless power transmission with laser communications. A single laser beam could provide both electricity and high-speed data links. This would reduce spacecraft weight and improve the efficiency of future lunar missions.

The technology remains in the research stage, but it could become a key part of future lunar infrastructure. Reliable wireless power would support long-term rover operations, scientific research, and eventually permanent human bases on the Moon. It could also play an important role in China’s planned International Lunar Research Station during the 2030s.

Source:

• SCMP