China's Chang'e 6 probe has taken another selfie on the far side of the moon. And this time, it's leaving a memorabilia there. Sun Ye has more.

The Chang'e 6 probe has collected samples from the lunar far side, the probe also left a memorable mark on the dark side of the moon. 

The national flag, displayed on Tuesday, will last for a long, long time, because it's made of stone, or more precisely, fiber from basalt. 

PROF. ZHOU CHANGYI National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chief Designer, Effective Payload System, Chang'e 6 Probe "We have used a whole new fabric this time. Previously, we used a type of polymer fiber for the Chang'e 5 flag. This time, we used basalt rock from the Earth. On the moon, such a flag will not wither for 10,000 years."

The stone had come from northern China's Hebei Province. It was pulled into extremely thin threads, which went through spinning, weaving, and printing – to become the flag it now is. 

Zhou said the material can withstand temperatures up to 700 degrees celsius, and could be made into functional clothing, for example for fire-fighters on the ground. But trying out this new material on the moon could mean more, because the moon also has basalt. 

PROF. ZHOU CHANGYI National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chief Designer, Effective Payload System, Chang'e 6 Probe "Going ahead, such basalt fiber may also be used on the moon to make other things. We hope to use the basalt on the moon to make building material. And, perhaps, even make some contributions to the future moon base."

Besides gathering lunar samples, Chang'e 6's payloads would be looking at more of the moon's native resources this time. 

And when the samples from the lunar far side return home, they will unveil much more about the moon. 

Sun Ye, CGTN, Beijing.