China unveils new spacesuit, preparing for Moon landing plan in 2030.
China has taken a big step forward in its efforts to land on the Moon by 2030. The country recently unveiled a brand new advanced spacesuit that astronauts will wear on upcoming lunar expeditions.
The red and white spacesuit was revealed by the China Manned Space Administration (CMSA) in a video showcasing the device’s features and mobility. The suit is designed with many features to help astronauts withstand the harsh and radioactive environment on the Moon.
The spacesuit reportedly has built-in long-range and short-range cameras, an operating console, and an anti-glare helmet visor with a large backpack for oxygen supply. In a video shared by state broadcaster CCTV, Chinese astronauts demonstrated the suit’s mobility.
In 2023, China announced plans to land on the Moon by 2030. This would be a major step towards establishing a permanent lunar base, something China wants to make a reality with the cooperation of Russia and other countries.
Beijing is also developing rovers and landers to take astronauts to the lunar surface.
The CMSA’s announcement of the new spacesuit caught the attention of Elon Musk, who re-shared the suit’s introductory video on social media platform X and expressed his frustration with the cumbersome paperwork process for space projects in the US.
China’s unveiling of its spacesuit comes as the country seeks to assert itself in space, an area that countries like the United States are eyeing not only for scientific gain but also for resource and security reasons.
Musk criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the agency that oversees the aviation industry in the United States, for refusing to grant SpaceX a license to launch its Starship rocket before November 2024 and even fined the company for violating safety regulations.
The US and China are competing to land humans on the Moon for the first time since NASA ended the Apollo program in 1972. NASA is reviving its Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2027.
