China's ambitious Chang'e-7 mission is set to launch by 2026, aiming to explore the moon's south pole in search of water ice. Among its groundbreaking objectives is the introduction of the first educational payload designed to make a flag flutter on the moon's surface.
This innovative payload, inspired by elementary school students from Changsha in Hunan Province, utilizes electromagnetic interactions to simulate waving despite the moon's lack of atmosphere. Deputy head of the Institute of Future Technology at the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), Zhang Tianzhu, explained that closed-loop wires embedded within the flag will carry alternating currents, generating magnetic fields to create the illusion of movement.
\"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 added. If successful, the mission will mark the first instance of a flag fluttering on the lunar surface, symbolizing both technological prowess and educational commitment.
In addition to the educational payload, Chang'e-7 will carry six scientific instruments developed in collaboration with six countries: Egypt, Bahrain, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, and Thailand, along with the International Lunar Observatory Association. This international cooperation underscores the mission's significance in advancing global space research and innovation.
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China's Chang'e-7 to take payload for making flag flutter on moon
cgtn.com
