China has recently completed its first-ever cave training program for astronauts inside a natural cave located in Chongqing Municipality. The cave environment closely mirrors the extreme conditions of space, including isolation, confinement, and darkness. Such complex cave training is considered highly beneficial for long-duration missions aboard space stations and future crewed lunar landings.
Since 2016, inspection teams from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center have conducted detailed surveys and assessments of more than ten caves across seven provinces and municipalities, including Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Anhui, and Chongqing. Following repeated evaluations, experts selected a natural cave in Wulong District, Chongqing, as the most suitable site for astronaut training.
According to the training plan, astronauts were required to live and work inside the cave continuously for six days, necessitating the transportation of hundreds of kilograms of supplies and equipment. Managing logistics—such as delivering supplies into the cave and transporting samples and household waste out—posed significant challenges for the inspection and support teams.
Among China’s second batch of astronauts is Tang Hongbo, a veteran who has flown into space twice. He served as the commander of the second training group, leading seven astronauts through a 30-meter-long cave passage so narrow that only one person could pass through at a time.
Over the course of nearly one month, 28 astronauts divided into four groups completed the cave training, each group spending six days in the damp, confined, and dark environment. During this period, they carried out more than ten tasks and experiments, including environmental monitoring, cave mapping, simulated space-to-Earth communication, and team-based psychological and behavioral training.
In May this year, the China Astronaut Research and Training Center also organized pre-training programs for instructors. As a psychological counselor for astronauts, Jiang Yuan participated in the pre-training as a simulated astronaut.
Liu Yang, commander of the third training group, noted that the program was especially valuable for astronauts who have not yet flown in space. Participants made significant progress in supply management, sense of responsibility, teamwork, service awareness, and altruism, she said.
Song Lingdong, China’s first male astronaut born after the 1990s, described the six-day cave training as physically exhausting yet deeply fulfilling. “The entire process involved risks, but it taught me a great deal,” he said.
On the third day inside the cave, Song and his teammates reached a branch cave destination characterized by narrow passages formed of limestone powder and gypsum stalactites. Inspired by the breathtaking scenery, he reflected on the meaning of exploration itself. “Whether exploring caves or venturing into space, both represent humanity’s pursuit of hope and the unknown,” he remarked.
The primary objective of China’s first cave training program is to enhance astronauts’ crisis response capability, independent working skills, teamwork, emergency decision-making, scientific research competence, physical endurance, and psychological resilience under extreme conditions. The program is expected to provide strong support for future long-term space station missions and China’s crewed lunar exploration goals.
Source: Anupama-Alim-Chai, China Media Group