Chinese researchers have shown their sci-tech ingenuity in the development of 'rock-made' national flag that shines with bright "Chinese red" on lunar far side when it was unfurled during the historic Chang'e-6 lunar mission.
As a sign of China's presence on the far side of the moon, the Chang'e-6 lunar probe displayed a Chinese national flag during its sampling mission in early June.
The flag was made of special composite materials, mainly basalt fibers. In Chinese, basalt rock is named Xuanwu rock after a mythical animal.
But it's not an easy task to dye those rock-made materials with an extremely smooth surface. The research team at Wuhan Textile University had tried repeatedly and mixed different kinds of fibers to better fix the color. They set their sights on the aramid fiber once used in the flag display system of the 2020 Chang'e-5 mission.
"The aramid fiber was also used in [Chang'e-]5 ['s national flag]. We mixed the two kinds of materials together and conducted trials again and again. Despite all the setbacks, we pressed ahead with the research with an unyielding spirit," said Professor Wang Yunli at Wuhan Textile University.
The feather-like aramid fibers can better interplay with the adhesive in the pigment, making the coating surface more stable and the color brighter.
Researchers told China Central Television (CCTV) that there were at least dozens of steps to turn a strand of silk into a flag. Compared with the eight-year development circle of the Chang'e-5 mission, the time was tighter and the task was more arduous for Chang'e-6.
"We had four mechanical experiments, and the environmental experiments had three steps. Counting in some early tests, there were over 50 steps in total. In the end, we run a thorough test on the flag, including its final unfolding stage. When we saw the national flag installation being unfolded [on the moon] and the robotic arm stretching out via video, we found it very cute and felt very proud," said Dr. Sheng Dan at Wuhan Textile University.
The research team spent nearly four years overcoming many international challenges including the spinning, weaving and dyeing of the ultra-fine basalt fiber to develop a "stone-made" flag that can withstand the harsh environment of the moon. China has became the first country to display its national flag on the moon's far side.
National flag display on lunar far side shows China's sci-tech ingenuity
National flag display on lunar far side shows China's sci-tech ingenuity
