Chinese Astronauts End Month-Long Cave Training Where Darkness Was So Dense You Could Not See Your Own Hands
China's National Space Administration announced the completion of a month-long astronaut training program conducted in total isolation deep underground in Chongqing Province. According to Space News, a group of twenty-eight participants underwent an intensive program that included psychological testing, mapping underground spaces, environmental monitoring, and training under limited communications.
In This Article:
- Twenty-Eight Trainees Split Into Four Groups for Week-Long Deep Underground Drills
- Exact Cave Location Not Officially Disclosed, Near the Ulun-Wulong Karst Area
- China Has Been Running Similar Underground Drills Regularly Since 2016
- ESA's CAVES Program as a Precedent, China Learns from Europe
- Tan Hongbo: The Darkness Was So Dense You Could Not See Your Hands
- Why This Training Matters for Future Moon Missions
- Looking Ahead: Preparing Humans for Off-Earth Stress
Twenty-Eight Trainees Split Into Four Groups for Week-Long Deep Underground Drills
Developed by the China Astronaut Research and Training Center (CARTC) and conducted with a CNSA division, the program divided the twenty-eight participants into four groups. Each group spent roughly a week deep underground to simulate the conditions of a future lunar mission. The curriculum included psychological testing, mapping underground spaces, environmental monitoring, and training under limited communications.
Exact Cave Location Not Officially Disclosed, Near the Ulun-Wulong Karst Area
The precise cave location has not been officially released. It is known that the program is conducted near the famous Wulong district, renowned for its distinctive karst formations, including natural bridges, Asia's largest arches, the world's largest natural well, and the Fenghuang Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
China Has Been Running Similar Underground Drills Regularly Since 2016
Such training exercises have been regularly conducted in China since 2016. Before the program began, more than ten potential sites across different regions of the country were surveyed, including Guangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou. Organizers say the chosen cave closely mirrors the extreme environment of space.
ESA's CAVES Program as a Precedent, China Learns from Europe
Earlier, the European Space Agency implemented a similar project called CAVES, focused on developing human behavioral traits and capabilities in closed spaces. One of the leaders of the Chinese program, veteran astronaut E Guanfu, participated in a similar ESA experiment in 2016.
Tan Hongbo: The Darkness Was So Dense You Could Not See Your Hands
Tan Hongbo, commander of the second team that underwent the trials, noted the difficulty of the situation: 'The darkness is so dense that you cannot see your own hands in front of your face'.
Why This Training Matters for Future Moon Missions
According to Chinese specialists, such training is important for future Moon missions, helping crew members cope with potential stressful situations and maintain a high level of psychological resilience.
Looking Ahead: Preparing Humans for Off-Earth Stress
This program is part of a broader effort to prepare for long-duration spaceflight and lunar exploration, emphasizing mental fortitude, teamwork, and the ability to perform under isolation in extreme environments.
