"While it isn't known which cave the astronauts braved, the CNSA notes the system was located somewhere in the Wulong District of Chongqing. This area is home to massive karst formations like the Wulong Three Bridges, the largest natural stone arches in Asia, as well as the Xiaozhai Heavenly Pit, the world's largest sinkhole. It also contains the famous Furong Cave, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the largest limestone caverns in the world."
"CARTC researchers had been scouting caves across China for the training program since 2016. At least 10 alternative caves were also considered, in regions like Guangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou. After rating each cavern based on metrics like training challenge, geological stability, and safety, program administrators settled on the one in Chongqing, where conditions most accurately resembled the "extreme environment of space," the CNSA said."
China Astronaut Research and Training Center (CARTC) completed a month-long subterranean isolation training for 28 astronauts to prepare for lunar landing missions. Astronauts were split into four groups, each spending nearly a week in underground isolation. Teams conducted cave mapping, environmental monitoring, long-distance communication, and psychological and behavioral training. The selected cave system lay in Wulong District, Chongqing, an area with major karst features including Wulong Three Bridges, Xiaozhai Heavenly Pit, and Furong Cave. CARTC scouted caves across China since 2016, evaluated at least ten alternatives, and chose Chongqing for its resemblance to the "extreme environment of space." The program mirrored ESA's CAVES training, with veteran astronaut Ye Guangfu involved.
Read at Futurism
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]