The first lunar spacesuit from China (video)

I spend most of my time in China and have the opportunity to observe the development of technology in this country. Not long ago, another lunar race began, in which the Americans (again) and now China are participating. Between 1969 and 1972, the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) successfully landed men on the Moon six times. No other country in the world has been able to repeat such a technically complex mission. This is about the question of what really needs to be repeated and after whom. And while those who witnessed the lunar conspiracy go to take pills, I will tell you about the first Chinese lunar spacesuit, which was presented today during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Spacesuit Technology Forum in the southwestern Chinese municipality of Chongqing.

The China Manned Spaceflight Agency (CMSA) has been researching and developing (R&D) for the lunar spacesuit since 2020. There are two main challenges in developing such a spacesuit: protective functions in difficult conditions and improving the mobility of astronauts. In general, spacesuit development involves a wide range of scientific disciplines and complex technologies, and only a few countries in the world have the ability to independently design and manufacture spacesuits. Actually, now there are three such countries – Russia, the USA and China.

In general, there are several types of spacesuits, which are divided depending on their purpose:

1. Spacesuits for launch and landing – protect astronauts during rocket takeoff and return to Earth, for example, the American ACES (Advanced Crew Escape Suit) and Russian Sokol spacesuits.

2. Extravehicular EVA spacesuits (Extravehicular Activity) – designed for work in outer space, for example, the American “EMU” (Extravehicular Mobility Unit) and the Russian “Orlan”.

3. Lunar spacesuits – specifically designed for work on the lunar surface, such as the spacesuits of the Apollo program and new developments for the Artemis “LESA” (Lunar Excursion Suit Assembly) missions and the Chinese lunar program. At the moment, Russia does not have a specially designed lunar suit that would be officially presented for future missions to the Moon. However, the USSR previously developed lunar space suits for the Luna program in the 1960s and 1970s, which were not used due to the cancellation of the program. In recent years, Russia has been planning to develop its lunar programs, but I would not talk about it seriously.

In general, the main differences between lunar suits and conventional spacewalk suits lie in their design and functionality. Both types of spacesuits are designed to protect against the vacuum of space, microgravity, radiation and extreme temperatures, but the specific conditions on the Moon place special demands on lunar spacesuits.

For example, EVA suits emphasize arm flexibility for extravehicular operations, while lunar suits need to provide greater lower body mobility for walking, climbing, and scientific exploration on the lunar surface. In addition, lunar spacesuits must cope with the problem of lunar dust, which is very fine and electrostatically charged, which can damage the suit. In general, the requirements for lunar spacesuits are more stringent.

The Chinese spacesuit is equipped with a multifunctional integrated control panel and cameras for recording near and far scenes. Other options include flexible and reliable gloves, a panoramic anti-glare helmet visor and joints adapted for low gravity conditions. There is no information on weight, but there was mention that the suit is lightweight, which makes it suitable for activities on the surface of the Moon.

Below in the video, taikonauts (Chinese astronauts) Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping act as models for the new lunar spacesuit. Wearing lunar gear, they perform various movements including walking, squatting, bending, kneeling, and climbing stairs. In short, as the developers said, the suit takes inspiration from traditional Chinese armor, embodying resilience, strength and dignity, reflecting the courage and pioneering spirit of the Chinese people. Well, where would we be without this)

It should be added that the Chinese have accumulated good experience in the development of spacesuits; their EVA spacesuits have been successfully used in 35 missions. The Chinese-developed first and second generation “Feitian” (“Space Flight”) spacesuits allowed 17 taikonauts to complete 33 spacewalks, which contributed to the construction and efficient operation of the Chinese space station “Tiangong” (“Heavenly Palace”).

By the way, last year the United States presented its newest lunar spacesuit for the Artemis III program, the goal of which is to land astronauts on the lunar surface. The private startup company Axiom Space was selected as the supplier of the spacesuit and support systems for the program.

However, just a week ago, the company began having difficulty paying bills and laid off at least a hundred employees, as well as cutting the salaries of those who remained.

China plans to send two taikonauts to the moon by 2030, officials previously said. Development of the new generation manned spacecraft “Mengzhou” (“Dream Boat”), lunar lander “Lan Yue” (“Embrace the Moon”) and the new generation launch vehicle “Long March 10” (“Long March”) have already begun and are progressing successfully. We are looking forward to new achievements!

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