China's Chang'e 5 lander, fresh from collecting lunar samples for Earth return, unfurled a miniature five-star red flag on Thursday, December 3.
In 2012, NASA released Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) images of Apollo sites under ideal lighting, revealing shadows from the U.S. flags planted by astronauts. Mark Robinson, LRO's senior imaging lead, noted that five of the six flags were still standing—the sixth toppled by the Lunar Module's ascent exhaust.
Those star-spangled banners, however, have likely faded to white after decades in the lunar environment, enduring extreme temperature swings from +130°C to -150°C and relentless UV radiation.
The U.S. is no longer alone in planting its flag on the Moon. During the Chang'e 5 mission—set to retrieve the first new lunar samples since Apollo (1969-1972) and Soviet Luna 16 (1970)—China affixed its emblem to the lander.
Weighing just 12 grams, this flag is mounted directly on the lander, not planted. State media reports it's engineered for lunar extremes, with the team investing over a year in specialized materials to ensure it retains its colors for decades.
This marks China's first fabric flag on the Moon; prior Chang'e 3 and 4 missions featured painted versions.
The mission is on track: samples secured, ascent stage launched from the lander on Thursday, December 3 at 4:10 p.m. French time. Six minutes later, it docked in lunar orbit with the orbiter on Saturday, December 5 at around 10:42 p.m. French time.
The return vehicle awaits an optimal window for its 112-hour journey, targeting a mid-December landing in Inner Mongolia with the precious cargo.
