Twenty-eight Chinese astronauts have completed an intensive cave training program in Wulong, Chongqing Municipality, marking a milestone in preparations for future space missions. The exercise, conducted in December 2025, saw participants divided into four teams enduring six-day stretches in subterranean conditions designed to simulate the psychological and physical challenges of space exploration.
The Wulong Karst terrain, with its 600-meter vertical shafts and maze-like tunnels, provided a natural laboratory for testing emergency response protocols and team cohesion. Astronauts navigated low-visibility environments, conducted geological surveys, and practiced resource management under time constraints—skills critical for lunar or Martian missions.
"This training bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and operational readiness," stated a China National Space Administration spokesperson. The program builds on previous underwater simulations and desert survival exercises, reflecting China's systematic approach to human spaceflight development as it plans crewed lunar missions later this decade.
International space agencies have shown interest in the novel training methodology, with the European Space Agency having conducted similar cave programs since 2011. Analysts note this initiative aligns with China's expanding space infrastructure, including the operational Tiangong station and planned deep-space exploration projects through 2030.
