Chinese scientists developed a special national flag made of basalt fibers, which was unfurled this week by the Chang’e 6 lunar probe.
The flag, designed to endure temperature fluctuations, high vacuum conditions, and strong ultraviolet radiation, became the first flag to fly on the far side of the moon.
The basalt fiber was developed by Wuhan Textile University and China Space Sanjiang Group Co.
Xu Weilin, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said, “Our team successfully developed the high-quality ‘stone version’ fabric national flag after overcoming major hurdles over the past four years, including difficulty weaving the fibers and ensuring that the colors won’t fade.”
Basalt fiber provides thermal insulation and radiation resistance, crucial for the lunar environment, according to Xu, who is also president of Wuhan Textile University in Hubei province. The basalt fiber is smooth, brittle, and fragile, making it difficult to spin and weave.
The Chang’e 6 flag is the same size as the one from the Chang’e 5 mission – 30 centimeters by 20 cm, similar to A4 paper. The basalt fibers in the Chang’e 6 flag are nearly twice as dense as those in the Chang’e 5 flag. However, Xu’s team developed ultrafine basalt fibers, resulting in a flag that weighs just 11.3 grams, 0.5 grams lighter than the Chang’e 5 flag.
Basalt fiber will be used increasingly in aerospace for spacesuits, spacecraft, and lunar bases due to its lightweight and flexible properties, Xu said. His team is researching basalt fibers for heat resistance and flame retardance in protective clothing and bags.
Cao Genyang, a professor on Xu’s team, noted that basalt fibers are fire-resistant and cost-effective. “Basalt fiber costs 25,000 yuan ($3,450) per metric ton, much lower than quartz fiber and carbon fiber, offering promising market prospects,” he said.
Cao explained that typical firefighting suits and ropes made of organic materials burn at 550 C. “The melting point of basalt fiber garment is 1,600 C, so it can be used at high temperatures of 1,200 C for a short time and 800 C for a long time,” he said.
Firefighting suits, fire blankets, and related products made from basalt fibers will be produced in the coming years, he added.
In Space Daily
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