First Moon Mission: Groundbreaking Discovery

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive when showcasing the Moon to the public is, “Can you see the flag left by astronauts there?”

This often leads to a conversation about the distance to the Moon compared to the challenge of spotting a 1.5 by 0.9 meter flag from such a distance. While my telescope is good, it’s not that good.

During the US Apollo program, six manned missions successfully landed on the Moon, starting with Apollo 11 in 1969, each leaving a flag. China has recently announced that another flag will be added to the collection in late 2026, as Chang’e 7 embarks on a lunar mission.

Flying a Flag on the Moon

The intriguing news originates from the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) via the China Media Group. The new flag planned for the Moon will be designed to appear as if it is ‘flapping’ on the airless lunar surface.

This innovative concept was suggested by elementary school students from Changsha in China’s Hunan Province. The flag will feature closed-loop wires embedded in the fabric, utilizing magnetic currents and electromagnetic interactions to create a waving effect.

“This project aims to deepen young students’ comprehension of China’s space program and spark their interest in pursuing space exploration in the future,” stated Zhang Tianzhu from DSEL/Institute of Technology in a recent press release.

A Race to the (Lunar) Pole

Chang’e 7 is also intended for scientific exploration, planning to land near Shackleton Crater’s edge within the Moon’s south polar region.

The crater’s permanently shadowed floor is of particular interest due to the suspected presence of water ice. Additionally, the mission will carry six instruments from six nations, including a rover and observatory from the International Lunar Observatory Association based in Hawai’i.

Shackleton Crater was previously considered as a landing site for NASA’s now scrapped VIPER rover.

While the significance of a flag ‘flapping’ in space may be limited, it promises to be an engaging form of public outreach for the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Notably, some visuals depict a CNSA logo (rather than the Chinese national flag) standing independently on a tall pole, indicating some meticulous planning will be required to implant it in the lunar soil.

China in Space 2025

The upcoming years are bustling with activities for China’s space agency. The launch of its inaugural asteroid and comet sample return mission, Tianwen-2, is slated for this May, with destinations including asteroid Kamo’ oalewa, believed to be a Moon fragment, and Comet 311P/PanSTARRS.

Furthermore, China is preparing for the launch of its own space telescope, Xuntian, in early 2026. This telescope will orbit synchronously with the manned Tiangong space station, facilitating maintenance and upgrades.

Placing flags in space and on the Moon is not a new phenomenon, typically involving mounting flags on spacecraft. For instance, the US flag on NASA’s New Horizons probe is voyaging beyond the Solar System, potentially outlasting the US and our species.

It is likely that US flags left by Apollo astronauts on the Moon have faded to white due to intense ultraviolet rays. Nonetheless, imagery from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter indicates that a few flags remain standing.

The honor of placing the first symbol on the lunar surface goes to Luna 2, the initial spacecraft to impact the Moon in 1959, carrying a pennant of the now dissolved Soviet Union:

Observing a flag ‘flapping’ on the Moon’s surface next year will undoubtedly be a memorable moment, possibly even evolving into an internet meme.

This content was originally featured on Universe Today. Explore the original article.