China plans to send a mission to the Moon in late 2026 that will include a unique flag designed to 'flap' in the lunar wind. The idea was proposed by elementary school students and aims to inspire young people interested in space exploration. The mission will also search for water ice in the permanently shadowed Shackleton Crater.
It’s one of the most often asked questions I get, while showing off the Moon to the public. “Can you see the flag the astronauts left there?” This then leads to a discussion on how far the Moon is, versus the difficulty of seeing a 1.5 by 0.9 meter flag at such a distance. My ‘scope isDuring the U.S. Apollo program, six crewed missions landed on the Moon starting with Apollo 11 in 1969, leaving a like number of flags.
The permanently shadowed floor of the crater is of special interest, as it is suspected to contain water ice. The mission will also carry six instruments from six nations, including a small rover and an observatory built and operated by theWhile the merits of having a flag flap in space may be limited, it should be an interesting bit of public outreach for the CNSA.
CHINA MOON SPACE EXPLORATION FLAG WATER ICE
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