Retired spacesuit to help design upgrades

Chinese engineers will carry out research and examine a retired spacewalk suit brought back from the Tiangong space station on Monday.

The suit, dubbed the extravehicular spacesuit B, was flown back to Earth aboard the Shenzhou XX return capsule, and is the first Chinese spacewalk suit to return from space, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

It has "extremely high scientific research value and commemorative significance", the agency said.

Subsequently, researchers will conduct a series of tests and analyses on it, and the results will provide accurate and authentic firsthand data for further in-orbit life extension and design optimization of spacewalk suits. They will also lay a solid foundation for the research and development of the nation's lunar suit meant for use in manned moon landing missions, the agency added.

The suit was sent to the Tiangong by the Tianzhou 2 cargo spacecraft in May 2021, and was first used in the Shenzhou XII crew's first spacewalk in July that year, which was also the first-ever spacewalk outside the Chinese space station.

Tang Hongbo, a crew member of the Shenzhou XII, wore the suit during a spacewalk that spanned six hours and 46 minutes, completing several assignments including installing a robotic arm and other equipment as well as testing the suit's performance.