Scientists plan to create the first fluttering flag on the moon

Scientists plan to create the first fluttering flag on the moon
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 13, 2025

Chinese scientists are working on an innovative idea suggested by elementary school students: designing a flag capable of fluttering on the moon despite its airless environment.

At the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), researchers from Beijing and Anhui province are collaborating on a new payload for the Chang'e 7 mission. The concept, sparked by the creativity of students from Changsha, Hunan province, was reported by China Central Television on Wednesday.

The payload, part of a scientific outreach project, will accompany the Chang'e 7 probe to the lunar south pole. Zhang Tianzhu, deputy director of the DSEL's future technology research institute, explained the mechanism behind the project: "We know on the moon, the absence of an atmosphere creates a vacuum, making it difficult for a flag to wave like it does on Earth."

Zhang elaborated further: "The students proposed that we design a closed-loop wire on the flag's surface, enabling bidirectional currents. The interaction of the electromagnetic fields would allow the flag to wave."

"If successful, this will be the first flag to flutter on the lunar surface," Zhang noted. He added that the scientific outreach payload project is targeted for completion by February, aiming to spark young people's interest in China's space initiatives and inspire future careers in aerospace.

This project comes on the heels of China's 2024 Chang'e 6 mission, which successfully conducted the world's first-ever sample return mission from the moon's far side. Meanwhile, preparations for the Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8 missions, part of the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program, are moving forward steadily.

The Chang'e 7 mission, expected to launch in 2026, will focus on searching for water or ice evidence at the moon's south pole. Researchers are also advancing plans for the subsequent Chang'e 8 mission, scheduled for a 2028 launch. This mission aims to conduct experiments on lunar resource utilization.

By 2035, the Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8 missions are anticipated to establish the foundation for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which will serve as a hub for engineers, a laboratory for scientists, and a training ground for future deep space talent, according to Zhang.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article