While the US continues to exist on track to send humans back to the moon, China is not far behind. In fact, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) hopes to launch its own astronauts to the moon’s surface before 2030 — and they debuted the spacesuit to do it. However, the name is still up in the air.
If Space news According to reports, the CMSA unveiled their new extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuit at an event on September 28 in Chongqing, China. Modeled by the country’s second woman in space, Wang Yaping, and fellow astronaut, Zhai Zhigang, the rollout focused almost exclusively on the suit’s appearance. In particular, each new suit is significantly slimmer and lighter than CMSA’s Feitian EVA clothing used for low Earth orbit, and is covered in a protective fabric to protect against intense temperature fluctuations and lunar dust. They also include a panoramic, anti-glare visor and cameras with both short and long focal lengths. Unlike their predecessors, the moon suits offer much more flexibility while traversing the moon.
In addition to the practical aspects, representatives explained that aesthetics were also important during the design phase. According to CNNThe predominantly white space suits have ribbon-like red stripes on their upper portions, inspired by the “flying apsaras,” deities featured in ancient Chinese art. The stiffer stripes on the legs are meant to mimic “rocket launch flares,” says CMSA director Zhang Wanxin. Chinese CCTV that they represent an armour-like, ‘strong-willed and unwavering’ motif. In making the announcement this weekend, CMSA officials also directed the nation to help name the new suits, who will be chosen at an unspecified later date.
Credit: CMSA
(Related: Polaris Dawn astronauts complete historic first commercial spacewalk.)
China recently completed its successful Chang’e-6 mission in which an unmanned probe returned to Earth with the first ever samples taken from the far side of the moon. The CMSA plans to send additional robotic spacecraft to the moon’s south pole in 2026 and 2028 for further resource analysis, prior to the possible establishment of a permanent base. When Chinese astronauts arrive on the moon by the end of this decade, they will tentatively spend six hours on the surface before returning home.
China isn’t the only country modernizing its space suits for astronauts. Last year NASA unveiled its next-generation EVA design courtesy of Axiom Space, while the Polaris Dawn mission’s first-ever commercial spacewalk featured SpaceX’s latest apparel. If all goes according to plan, NASA hopes to send its Artemis 3 astronauts into lunar orbit no earlier than September 2026 – even if that is the case. seem increasingly likely that the start window slides back. The same is likely for the Artemis 4 moon landing, currently planned for 2028.
Credit: CMSA