--- title: "China Unveils Spacesuit for Upcoming Moon Landing" description: "  China's Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has shown off a spacesuit designed to be worn by astronauts on the surface of the Moon. The extravehicular lunar suit is part of the country's plans to land humans on the lunar surface before the end of the decade, a wildly ambitious plan that could result in the […]" date: "2024-09-30" modified: "2024-09-30" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-unveils-spacesuit-moon-landing" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "Space" tags: - "china" - "lunar landing" - "moon" - "spacesuit" - "the digest" --- # China Unveils Spacesuit for Upcoming Moon Landing ![China's Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has shown off a spacesuit designed to be worn by astronauts on the surface of the Moon.]() *\Image: CCTV\* ## Moon Suit Riot China's Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has shown off a spacesuit designed to be worn by astronauts on the surface of the Moon. As [*SpaceNews* reports](), the extravehicular lunar suit is part of the country's plans to land humans on the lunar surface before the end of the decade, a wildly ambitious plan that could result in the country becoming the first to put boots on the ground since December 1972. Meanwhile, NASA is hoping to land its own astronauts on the Moon "[no earlier than September 2026]()," according to the space agency. However, given [ongoing technical issues]() and [major budgetary constraints](), it remains unclear which nation will make it to the surface of the Moon first. https://youtu.be/UUH5YyRPPXE ## Stars and Stripes The CMSA showed off its spacesuit at an event on September 28. According to a [promotional video]() shared by state-owned news agency *CCTV*, the suit will have special shielding to protect astronauts from the extreme environment and lunar dust. The helmet will also hold cameras for a first-person view. Red stripes on the suit's torso are inspired by traditional Chinese art — as well as its ruling Communist Party — while its overall shape borrows elements of the country's military past. The video also shows the mobility of the suit, allowing its wearer to bend over and squat with ease. "The suit allows for more actions," China Astronaut Research and Training Center chief designer Wang Chunhui told *CCTV*, as quoted by *SpaceNews*. "So in various postures, the fitness shouldn’t be affected after a posture change. Therefore it requires a better fit on the human body." Wang also argued that "it is a must to greatly reduce the suit's weight" due to the "metabolic load of the human body" while walking on the lunar surface. Before it sends a crew to the Moon, the country is planning to launch two robotic missions to lay the groundwork for a [future research station on the Moon]() in 2026 and 2028. Meanwhile, it's still unclear whether NASA's own Moon suit, which is being designed by private space company Axiom Space, will be ready for prime time. The company is [seriously struggling financially](), according to a recent [*Forbes* report](), and has had to lay off at least 100 employees, while cutting the pay of those who remain. In short, with the full might of China's rising space program behind it, the nation might just stand a chance of beating the US to the punch. **More on Moon suits:** *[The Company NASA's Hired to Build the Next Space Station Seems to Be in Big Trouble, Firing 100 Employees and Unable to Pay Bills]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()