Moon suit riot
China’s Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has shown off a spacesuit designed to be worn by astronauts on the surface of the moon.
If Space News reportsThe extravehicular lunar approach is part of the country’s plans to land humans on the moon’s surface before the end of this decade, a hugely ambitious plan that could see the country become the first country to put boots on the moon since December 1972 sets ground.
Meanwhile, NASA hopes to land its own astronauts on the moon’no earlier than September 2026,” the space agency said. However, given ongoing technical problems and major budget constraints, it remains unclear which country will be the first to reach the moon’s surface.
Stars and stripes
The CMSA showed off its spacesuit at an event on September 28 promotional video shared by a state news agency CCTVthe suit will have special shielding to protect astronauts from the extreme environment and moon dust. The helmet also contains cameras for a first-person view.
The red stripes on the body of the suit are inspired by traditional Chinese art – and the ruling Communist Party – while the overall shape borrows elements from the country’s military past.
The video also shows the suit’s mobility, allowing the wearer to bend and crouch with ease.
“The suit enables more actions,” said Wang Chunhui, chief designer of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center CCTVas quoted by Space News. “So with different postures, the condition should not be affected after a change in posture. Therefore, a better fit to the human body is required.”
Wang also argued that “it is a must to greatly reduce the weight of the suit” due to the “metabolic burden on the human body” when walking on the lunar surface.
Before it sends a crew to the moon, the land plans to launch two robotic missions to lay the foundation for a future research station on the moon in 2026 and 2028.
Meanwhile, it’s still unclear whether NASA’s own moon approach, which is being designed by private space company Axiom Space, will be ready for prime time. The company is in serious financial troublesaid a recent one Forbes reportand has had to lay off at least 100 workers, while cutting wages for those who remain.
In short, with the full might of China’s nascent space program behind it, the country could well have a shot at beating the US.
More about moon suits: The company NASA hired to build the next space station appears to be in deep trouble, laying off 100 employees and unable to pay the bills