China is gearing up for its Chang’e-7 mission, set to launch by 2026, with a unique educational payload that aims to make a flag flutter on the moon’s surface. This innovative endeavor marks the first time a flag will appear to wave on the lunar surface, despite the moon’s lack of atmosphere.
Inspired by elementary school students from Changsha in central China’s Hunan Province, the payload utilizes electromagnetic interactions to create the waving motion. Closed-loop wires embedded within the flag will carry alternating currents, generating magnetic fields that cause the flag to move, explained Zhang Tianzhu, deputy head of the Institute of Future Technology at the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL).
“This initiative is intended to enhance young students’ understanding of China’s space program and inspire their interest in pursuing space exploration in the future,” Zhang said.
The Chang’e-7 mission will also focus on exploring the moon’s south pole in search of traces of water ice, a critical resource for future lunar missions and potential habitation. This mission reflects China’s growing ambitions in space exploration and its commitment to international collaboration.
In addition to the flag project, the mission will carry six scientific instruments developed by six countries and one international organization. The participating countries are Egypt, Bahrain, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, and Thailand, along with the International Lunar Observatory Association.
This international cooperation highlights the global interest in lunar exploration and the importance of shared scientific advancement. As the launch date approaches, the world watches with anticipation to see how this mission will contribute to our understanding of the moon and inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts.
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China's Chang'e-7 to take payload for making flag flutter on moon
cgtn.com
