China is joining the race to harness solar power from space using heavy rockets, CNBC reported last week. Senior rocket scientist and project lead Long Lehao envisions “installing a solar array 1km wide along the 36k km geostationary orbit,” taking inspiration from the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, to tap in solar power that doesn’t depend on weather conditions, seasons, or time of day. The “Manhattan Project” of the energy sector joins California-based startup Aetherflux and UK-based startup Space Solar who are working on similar projects.

But first, there are kinks to iron out: Long’s team is working on the Long March-9 (CZ-9) — a reusable heavy-lift rocket – which is needed for the project to work. The rocket would have a capacity of over 150 tons to orbit, making it stronger than most NASA rockets. Researchers would also have to figure out a way for the systems to assemble and maintain large systems in orbit, operate autonomously, and efficiently power-beam what is harvested back to Earth, according to NASA.

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