Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
China is preparing to launch the Chang’e 7 mission in 2026, with an innovative goal: planting a flag that mimics fluttering on the moon’s airless surface.
The flag’s fluttering effect will be achieved using an electromagnetic mechanism powered by closed-loop wires and alternating electric currents, explained Zhang Tianzhu of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory.
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This mechanism compensates for the absence of wind on the moon, demonstrating China’s focus on advanced space exploration technologies. A demonstration payload for the system is expected to be finalized by February.
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Chang’e 7 will also advance lunar research, including studying the moon’s south pole, a key area of global interest for future exploration and habitation.
The Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, co-established by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the University of Science and Technology of China, leads the development of these initiatives.
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Preparations are underway for the Chang’e 8 mission and the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a scientific facility planned for the moon’s south pole by 2035.
The ILRS will be designed to support long-term autonomous operations with occasional human participation, marking a major step in lunar exploration.
The south pole’s resource-rich environment, including potential water ice deposits, is drawing interest from nations like the U.S. and China, heightening competition in lunar exploration.
With Chang’e 7 and subsequent missions, China aims to establish itself as a leader in space innovation, aligning with its broader goal of global technological leadership.