China's Chang'e 6 mission carried a stone flag to the moon's far side

image via Space.com

June 11, 2024, 10:00 AM

• •China's Chang'e 6 lunar flag is made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that's plentiful on the lunar surface.
• •The decision to use basalt was guided by the "in situ utilization" principle of leveraging resources available on the lunar surface rather than transporting materials from Earth.
• •The final version of the national flag was produced with composite material primarily composed of basalt, accounting for 62% of all the materials.

China's Chang'e 6 lander touched down on the moon's far side on June 2, and the Chinese national flag soon unfurled from the lander. The flag is made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that's plentiful on the lunar surface. The decision to use basalt was guided by the "in situ utilization" principle of leveraging resources available on the lunar surface rather than transporting materials from Earth. This approach aligns with China's goal of sustainable lunar exploration.

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