Thomas Unise
China’s astronaut corps is taking lunar mission preparation to new depths, literally. Twenty-eight astronauts recently completed an intensive month-long training program in underground caves to simulate the extreme conditions of space exploration.
Underground Isolation Simulates Space Challenges
The China Astronaut Research and Training Center (CARTC) organized this unique program where astronauts were divided into four teams, each spending nearly a week in complete underground isolation. Located in Chongqing’s Wulong District, an area known for massive karst formations including the world’s largest sinkhole and UNESCO heritage limestone caverns, the selected cave system provided conditions that closely resembled the “extreme environment of space.”
During their subterranean experience, the astronauts focused on developing critical skills including:
- Cave mapping techniques
- Environmental monitoring
- Long-distance communication methods
- Psychological and behavioral training
Deliberate Selection Process
CARTC researchers spent years evaluating potential training sites, considering at least 10 alternative caves across regions like Guangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou. The selection criteria included training challenge level, geological stability, and safety factors. The Chongqing location ultimately proved most suitable for simulating space-like conditions.
Minimal Intervention Approach
Veteran astronaut Ye Guangfu, who directed the Chinese cave training and previously participated in the European Space Agency’s similar CAVES program in 2016, highlighted a key difference in their approach. “Compared with the cave training in Europe, our support team inside the cave intervened as little as possible,” Ye told state news agency Xinhua. This strategy forced astronauts to rely on their own judgment and problem-solving abilities.
Extreme Psychological Challenges
The psychological impact of the training was profound. Tang Hongbo, a veteran of multiple spaceflight missions who commanded one of the cave teams, described the intense darkness: “It was so dark that I couldn’t see my own hands in front of my face. In that kind of darkness, the mental pressure is overwhelming.”
This program parallels the European Space Agency’s Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behavior and performance Skills (CAVES), demonstrating China’s commitment to preparing its astronauts for the unique challenges of lunar exploration through extreme environment training.
Conclusion
China’s underground astronaut training represents an innovative approach to space preparation, focusing on developing self-reliance, problem-solving abilities, and psychological resilience in conditions that approximate the challenges of lunar missions. By pushing astronauts beyond their comfort zones in these controlled yet extreme environments, China continues to advance its ambitious space program with an eye toward future lunar landings.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings