China is setting its sights on sending its first astronauts to the moon by 2030, and the nation has just revealed the newly crafted spacesuit they will be donning for this groundbreaking mission.
Unveiled by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) during a recent event in Chongqing, the striking red and white suit is engineered to withstand the moon’s hostile environment, which includes extreme temperatures, high radiation levels, and abrasive dust.
A technician demonstrated the suit’s capabilities on stage, showcasing a range of movements that illustrated a notable level of flexibility—even under the weight of gravity. This new suit is designed to be lighter and more adaptable compared to the ones currently used by Chinese taikonauts during spacewalks in low-Earth orbit. Concurrently, NASA and its private partners are also developing more flexible suits, with recent designs already tested by Jared Isaacman in last month’s Polaris Dawn mission.
The features of China’s innovative spacesuit include a panoramic, anti-glare visor and a console for connecting an audio and video communication system.
At the conclusion of the suit showcase, Yang Liwei, the first astronaut from China to journey into space back in 2003, initiated a public campaign to name this futuristic suit—though it’s unlikely we’ll see anything like “Suity McSuitface” topping the polls.
NASA made history by landing its first astronauts on the moon in 1969, continuing with several missions until 1972 under the Apollo program. Now, the U.S. space agency aims to return to the lunar surface with the Artemis initiative. After numerous delays, they are currently eyeing September 2026 for a mission that plans to land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon. With potential delays looming, NASA may find itself in a competitive race with China to claim the title of conducting the first crewed lunar landing of the 21st century.