posted 09-28-2024 10:01 AM               

China unveils moon landing spacesuit

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) unveiled the exterior design of the country's moon landing spacesuit for the first time on Saturday (Sept. 28), soliciting its name from the public.

Displayed on the third Spacesuit Technology Forum hosted by the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, the white moon landing spacesuit is decorated with red stripes.

The red stripes on its upper limbs are inspired by ribbons from the famous "flying apsaras" of Dunhuang art, while those on its lower limbs resemble rocket launch flames.

According to a video released by the CMSA, the spacesuit is made from protective materials that can effectively shield astronauts from the lunar thermal environment and lunar dust. It is equipped with a multifunctional integrated control panel that is easy to operate, as well as cameras for recording close-up and long-distance scenes.

The spacesuit also features flexible and reliable gloves, a panoramic glare-proof helmet visor, and joints adapted for low-gravity environments. The overall design of the spacesuit is lightweight, suitable for activities on the lunar surface.

Astronauts Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping serve as models for the new lunar suit in the video. Clad in the lunar gear, they perform a variety of movements, including walking, squatting, bending over, kneeling on one knee, and climbing a ladder.

According to Li Meng from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, the development of the moon landing spacesuit was started in 2020, aiming to produce lightweight, compact, highly reliable and safe lunar suits. The development has made many key technological breakthroughs.

China's first and second generations of Feitian extravehicular spacesuits have supported 17 astronauts in completing 17 extravehicular activities, ensuring the construction and efficient operation of the country's space station, according to Liu Dongyue from the center.

Zhai made history in the Shenzhou-7 mission as China's first person to conduct a spacewalk. He is also a crew member for the Shenzhou-13 mission.

Wang is a crew member for the Shenzhou-10 and the Shenzhou-13 missions and the first woman astronaut who has entered China's space station.

China has initiated the lunar landing phase of its manned lunar exploration program, with a plan of manned lunar landing by 2030. The unveiling of the moon landing spacesuit marks the achievement of the program, and signifies the new stage of the country's spacesuit technology.

posted 02-12-2025 10:04 AM               

The names of the lunar suit and the manned lunar rover for China's manned lunar exploration mission are officially confirmed

After public solicitation and selection, the names of the lunar suit and manned lunar rover for China's manned lunar exploration mission have been determined. The lunar suit is named "Wangyu" and the manned lunar rover is named "Tansuo."

Following the first public solicitation of new names for manned lunar exploration missions in 2023, the China Manned Space Engineering Office launched the name solicitation activities for the lunar suit and manned lunar rover for the manned lunar exploration mission in September and October 2024, which attracted widespread attention and enthusiastic participation from the whole society. A total of more than 9,000 submissions were received from organizations and people from all walks of life in the fields of aerospace, science and technology, and cultural communication.

The names of the lunar suit and manned lunar rover have distinct Chinese characteristics, contemporary characteristics, and cultural characteristics. "Wangyu" means looking into the universe and exploring the unknown, which echoes the "Feitian" extravehicular suit for space station missions. It means that after realizing the dream of flying into the sky and building a "space home," China's manned spaceflight has embarked on a new journey of landing on the moon and looking into the deep space. It also conveys China's firm position in developing the aerospace industry to always adhere to the peaceful use of space and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

"Tansuo" means the exploration and practice of the unknown world, which clearly reflects the core mission and application value of the lunar rover to help the Chinese explore the mysteries of the moon. It is highly consistent with the aerospace dream of "exploring the vast universe, developing the aerospace industry, and building a space power," and demonstrates the innovative spirit of China's manned aerospace to climb to the top and unremittingly seek.

At present, the Wangyu lunar suit and the Tansuo manned lunar rover have fully entered the prototype development stage, and all work is progressing smoothly.