A spacesuit made for China’s astronauts’ planned lunar expedition was recently shown. The objective is to land people on the moon by the end of the decade. On September 28, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) unveiled the extravehicular lunar suit, marking an important development in its quickly progressing space program. China may become the first country to send people back to the Moon since NASA’s Apollo 17 mission in 1972 if it is successful.
The state-owned CCTV released a promotional video showcasing the CMSA’s spacesuit, which is designed to shield astronauts from the hostile lunar environment. The helmet is fitted with cameras to provide a first-person perspective, and special shielding will shield against lunar dust and extremely high temperatures. The overall construction of the suit draws inspiration from China’s military heritage, while the red stripes on the torso represent both the Communist Party and traditional Chinese art. Because of the suit’s mobility, astronauts may easily bend and squat, which is essential for prolonged operations on the lunar surface.
The lead designer of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Wang Chunhui, stressed that the suit’s weight has been drastically decreased to lessen astronauts’ metabolic burden. According to Wang, “it is a must to greatly reduce the suit’s weight” to ensure that astronauts may conduct varied actions without pain.
In 2026 and 2028, China intends to send two robotic missions in order to get ready for a future lunar research outpost. NASA, meanwhile, is aiming for a landing in 2026, but the race to the Moon’s surface is fierce due to continued technological difficulties and financial limitations. China has the ability to surpass the United States in this new space competition, especially with the full backing of its government.