China Manned-Space Program Moves Forward

According to an article posted on the English version on PeopleDailyOnline, the Chinese space program is moving forward.  They are currently choosing astronauts for Shenzhou 8 and Shenzhou 9 missions planned for next year.

They will be working on maintenance and docking tasks as well as testing and measuring physiological and psychological changes which occur in space.  It would be interesting to know what measurements and tests they will be performing and to see the results of these tests.

It looks like the Chinese are stepping up their program at a time when the United States seems to be in a holding pattern.  Maybe this activity will spur those in the US, both private sector and NASA to step up their game.

To read the article in PeopleOnlineDaily, click here.

China's manned spaceflight program

So China's kicked off plans for an unmanned lunar landing in 2013.... a manned space station by 2020... and who knows what else. While I applaud whomever has the determination to explore space to "boldly go", it's still sobering that the US will no longer hold the cards for the first "flags and footsteps." Does this bother anyone else on some level? What else are you hearing out there regarding China's growing space capabilities?