From lunar water hunts to Mars sample returns, China's space program is embarking on groundbreaking missions across the solar system, aiming for the moon, Mars and beyond.

China’s moon programme is part of a growing rivalry with the US – still the leader in space exploration – and others, including Japan and India. The US is planning to land astronauts on the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, though Nasa pushed the target date back to 2026 earlier this year.

The country wants to land a crewed mission on the lunar surface by 2030 - and this suit is designed to help the astronauts who travel there.

Long-term research program includes building Moon bases, finding habitable exoplanets, and probing 'space-time ripples' China yesterday revealed its space exploration plans between now and the year 2050,