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The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has unveiled a new spacesuit designed for its ambitious plan to land astronauts on the moon by 2030 and establish an international lunar research station at the moon’s south pole by 2040. A video released by state broadcaster CCTV over the weekend highlights the suit’s built-in cameras, control console and anti-glare visor, features demonstrated by famed Chinese astronauts Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping.
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Built for the moon: Wu Zhiqiang, deputy chief designer of astronaut systems at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, explained that the new space suit is specially designed for lunar conditions. “Unlike low Earth orbit missions, astronauts will be in a harsh natural lunar environment during extravehicular lunar activities,” he told CCTV, highlighting the challenges posed by the moon’s high vacuum , low gravity, moon dust and extreme temperature fluctuations.
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Majestic design: The suit’s red stripes are inspired by traditional Chinese art and symbolize both ‘flying apsaras’ and ‘rocket launch flames’. Emphasizing aesthetic considerations, designers aimed for a suit that would “make the astronauts look more energetic and majestic” and “make us Chinese look strong and beautiful when we step on the moon.” China’s growing space program has recently seen a series of complex robotic missions to the moon, including the first-ever return of lunar samples from the far side of the moon.
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