On June 11, the China National Space Administration announced the panoramic view of the landing site and the topography of Mars taken by the Zhurong rover, marking the complete success of China's first Mars exploration mission.
In the returned image data, in addition to the eye-catching surface features with rich details, there is a "technical code" hidden behind the bright red "Chinese imprint" on the landing platform and the Mars rover.
These two five-star red flags were developed by the 510th Institute of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Limited.
The five-star red flag mounted on the surface of the rover is 96 mm long and 64 mm wide. It is a "twin brother" with the national flags used on Chang'e 3 and 4; the flag device mounted on the landing platform is 360 mm long and 240 wide. Millimeters, the system is deployed after landing.
Limited by the installation location and space, the landing platform flag device is designed to be similar to the unfolding method of calligraphy and painting in traditional Chinese culture, using shape memory composite materials to lock and release the flag.
During the ground assembly and testing before landing on Mars, launch, ground fire transfer, ring fire flight, and landing stage, the national flag is always in a coiled storage state. After landing, it is released and unfolded by heating the shape memory composite material.
The driving mechanism of the national flag device adopts shape memory composite materials, so that the total weight of the entire national flag device is less than 200 grams; winding lock-the unfolded flag display is suitable for larger-sized national flags, and the dynamic unfolding process is vivid and the display effect is excellent; unlock The design adopts heating to expand slowly, and the shape memory composite material expands with almost no vibration and impact.
(Video source: 510 Institute of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)
Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】