Last weekend, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) unveiled the exterior design of the astronaut suit for lunar landings and invited the public to contribute ideas for its name.
At the third Astronaut Suit Technology Forum organized by the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Chongqing, the lunar landing suit was showcased in a striking white with red stripes. The red stripes on the upper part of the suit are inspired by the ribbons of the famous “Apsara Dance” in Dunhuang art, while the stripes on the lower part evoke the imagery of flames during rocket launches.
China’s lunar space suit design for crewed lunar missions before 2030. (Source: CMSA).
According to a video released by CMSA, the astronaut suit is made from materials designed to protect astronauts from the harsh environments of thermal radiation and lunar dust. The suit is also equipped with an integrated multifunctional control panel that is easy to operate, along with cameras to capture both close and distant images.
This suit features flexible gloves, a panoramic anti-glare helmet shield, and joints adapted for low-gravity environments. The overall design of the suit is lightweight, suitable for activities on the lunar surface.
In this new suit, astronauts Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping performed various movements such as walking, squatting, bending, kneeling, and climbing ladders.
According to expert Li Meng at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, the development of the lunar landing astronaut suit began in 2020, aiming to create lightweight, compact, highly reliable, and safe suits. This process has led to significant technological breakthroughs.
The first and second generations of China’s Feitian space suits have supported 17 astronauts in completing 17 space missions, contributing to the effective construction and operation of the country’s space station.
Astronaut Zhai Zhigang made history during the Shenzhou-7 mission as the first Chinese person to conduct a spacewalk. He was also a crew member of the Shenzhou-13 mission.
Meanwhile, Wang Yaping was a crew member in the Shenzhou-10 and Shenzhou-13 missions and is recognized as the first female astronaut to step onto China’s space station.
The announcement of this design marks a significant advancement for China as it prepares for future crewed lunar missions.
