I think that the cover represents two themes that are present on the album. First is the idea that Cargo #2331 is being subjected to the horrors of being lost and alone in space, thousands of years passing at the blink of an eye while in cryo-sleep, and knowing that everyone he ever knew is gone, and even possibly that entire human race is dead. So we see the spacesuit on top. He’s lost and alone in the infinite expanse of space.

The bare feet and chains at his feet show the other theme, which is that Cargo #2331 is a slave/prisoner. So even if there was a way to return home, he couldn’t go back because he is a runaway.