Twenty-eight Chinese astronauts just leveled up their space prep game by surviving six days in Chongqing’s freezing, pitch-black caves – and the stories are wilder than a sci-fi movie! 🎬
Training in the Depths
Divided into squads, the teams navigated 99% humidity, 8°C temps, and claustrophobic tunnels while conducting experiments and psychological tests. Imagine rappelling down walls and doing logistics math in total darkness! 🧗♂️
Mental Fortitude in Darkness
"It felt like being in space – just you, your heartbeat, and infinite quiet," said Shenzhou-16’s Zhu Yangzhu, who even suggested turning off lights to fully embrace the void. First female astronaut Liu Yang compared exiting the cave to spacecraft re-entry: "That rush of success? Pure magic." ✨
Why Caves?
Since 2016, China’s space trainers scouted over 10 caves nationwide before picking Chongqing’s Wulong District. The CARTC plans to run this extreme bootcamp for all new recruits. Pro tip: Don’t try this on your next camping trip. 🏕️❌
