China has taken a step forward in its ambitious plan to land astronauts on the moon by 2030 – unveiling the specially designed spacesuit its crew will don for what’s expected to be a landmark mission in the country’s space program. The new red-and-white suit – revealed by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) over the weekend – is made to withstand the moon’s extreme temperatures, as well as radiation and dust, while allowing astronauts physical flexibility to perform tasks on the lunar surface, according to state media. The moon-landing suit is equipped with a built-in long and short-range camera, an operations console, and a glare-proof helmet visor, according to a video shared by state broadcaster CCTV, which featured well-known Chinese astronauts Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping demonstrating how astronauts wearing the suit can bend and climb a ladder. The new technology has caught international attention. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared a post on the platform X featuring the CCTV video and his own caption. “Meanwhile, back in America, the [Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)] is smothering the national space program in kafkaesque paperwork!” he wrote, in an apparent reference to the perceived speed with which China has bolstered its space program relative to the US. CNN has reached out to FAA for comment. SpaceX’s fortunes – and Musk’s personal wealth – have been boosted in recent years by huge government contracts as NASA has sought to tap into the private sector on space exploration and logistics. An image of China’s new lunar spacesuit as it appeared in a video shared by state media. An image of China’s new lunar spacesuit as it appeared in a video shared by state media. Xinhua Space leader China’s reveal of the moon-landing spacesuit comes as the country has mounted a significant effort to establish itself a major player in space – a domain that nations, including the United States, are increasingly looking to not only for scientific benefit, but also with an eye to resources and national security. The China National Space Administration has in recent years carried out a series of increasingly complex robotic lunar missions, including the first-ever return of lunar samples from the far side of the moon earlier this year. It has been angling to become the second country to land astronauts on the moon, saying its first crewed mission will take place “by 2030.” The US, which has not sent astronauts to the moon since 1972, is also planning to send a crew this decade, though it has delayed its initial timeline for its Artemis III mission. That mission will not take off until at least September 2026, NASA said earlier this year. The agency revealed a protoype of its Artemis III spacesuit prototype, the AxEMU, in 2023. China’s new spacesuit was hailed across state media as a major step forward in the country’s crewed mission timeline, with experts noting the need for specifically formulated suit for lunar conditions versus those used in spacewalks by astronauts at China’s Tiangong orbital space station. The reentry module of China’s historic Chang’e-6 lunar mission touched down on Earth on June 25, 2024. Related article China’s Chang’e-6 moon mission returns to Earth with historic far side samples Thanks to its thin exosphere, the moon is an unforgiving place, exposed to both the sun’s rays and the cold of space. Temperatures near the Moon’s equator, for example, can spike to 250°F (121°C) in the day and then plunge at night to -208°F (-133°C), according to NASA. “Unlike low-Earth orbit missions, astronauts will be in a harsh natural lunar environment during lunar extravehicular activities. Complex environmental factors such as high vacuum and low gravity, lunar dust and lunar soil, complex lunar surface terrain, high and low temperatures, and strong radiation will have a significant impact on work and protection,” Wu Zhiqiang, deputy chief designer of astronaut systems at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, told state broadcaster CCTV. Others also hailed the aesthetics of the suit, with state media describing the red stripes on its upper limbs are inspired by ribbons from the “flying apsaras,” or deities that appear in ancient art in western China’s Dunhuang city, while those on its lower limbs resembling “rocket launch flames.” Another designer, Wang Chunhui, told state media the suit’s proportions would make the astronauts “look more spirited and majestic” and “make us Chinese look strong and beautiful when we step on the moon.” Earlier this year, Chinese officials released the name of the spacecraft for the crewed lunar mission – with the spaceship dubbed Mengzhou, or Dream Vessel, the lander, Lanyue, or Embracing the Moon. The mission is designed as part of a broader set of lunar ambitions, which include China’s plans to establish an international lunar research station at the moon’s south pole by 2040.

New Zealand has reclaimed the world record for the largest mass Haka, with thousands packing a major stadium on Sunday for a resounding performance of the traditional Māori routine.

Historically a ceremonial Māori war dance, the Haka was intended as a challenge to opponents and a rallying cry before heading into battle, though today it is also used to celebrate Māori identity and culture and as a way of unifying people at times of grief.

The sights and sounds of the Haka – feet stomping, fists pumping, vocal cords straining – are deeply entrenched within New Zealand culture and have been famously adopted by the country’s rugby teams as a pre-match ritual.

Some 6,500 participants joined the record-breaking feat in Auckland on Sunday, according to officials at Eden Park, the iconic stadium where the national rugby team the All Blacks have remained undefeated since 1994. The attendance beat record holder France’s 4,028 in 2014.

New Zealand band Six60 perform for participants gathered in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024.

Nick Sautner, Chief Executive of Eden Park, said it’s “more than just numbers… It’s about honoring our cultural legacy on a global stage.”

On Sunday night, participants filled the sports ground with thundering cheers. They huffed out their chests, stomped on the floors, and stuck their tongues out to make intimating facial expressions, according to a video posted on Haka Record’s official Instagram.

“It’s time for [France’s record holder status] to change,” organizer Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust wrote on the official website ahead of the event, issuing a call to participants to “stand as a nation and bring haka home.”

CNN affiliate Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported that Guinness World Records adjudicator Brian Sobel confirmed the record, although the final number of attendees could still be adjusted.

Speaking to the public broadcaster, Sobel recalled how he felt watching the Haka on stage. “It hit you like a force. It was very, very impressive to see,” he said.

CNN has reached out to Guinness World Records for comment.

New Zealand filmmaker-actor Taika Waititi, second from right, and US TV host Conan O'Brien, second from left, at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024.

Among the celebrities in the crowd were American TV host Conan O’Brien, New Zealand director Taika Waititi and former boxer David Tua, according to RNZ.

The Haka had to be performed for one minute, so the crowd performed Ka Mate, the most well-known Haka routine, four times in a row to fulfil the requirement, RNZ reported. The dance was composed by Te Rauparaha, a great Māori leader from the 19th century.

While the Haka has been embraced by New Zealanders from many walks of life, the Māori community – which accounts for nearly a fifth of the country’s more than 5 million person population – often faces discrimination that results in poorer health and education outcomes and higher rates of incarceration.

Protests have broken out this year sparked by New Zealand’s right-wing government proposing to dissolve the country’s Māori Health Authority, roll back the use of the Māori language and end limits on tobacco sales – a requirement Māori leaders had sought in an effort to cut high rates of smoking in their community.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *