Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Sept 22, 2006 18:27:32 GMT -6
NASA Chiefs to Get Peek at China Program
U.S. space officials will get a peek behind the closely guarded doors of China's space program next week during a visit that many experts believe is more about diplomacy than cooperation in technology.
President Bush asked NASA Administrator Michael Griffin to go to China last spring, following a visit from Chinese President Hu Jintao. During the four-day trip that starts Sunday, a delegation led by Griffin will meet with the head of the Chinese Aerospace
"This is a get-acquainted session and it's nothing more," Griffin said this week.
The United States has never had significant space discussions with China, even though both countries, along with Russia, are the only nations that can launch people into orbit.
The chief obstacle to more space cooperation has been the military influence over China's space programrocket
NASA says there will probably be no space cooperation agreements with China like the one the U.S. space agency produced from Griffin's visit to India in May. The U.S. space agency has agreements with other spacefaring nations, most notably Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan in building and operating the international space station.
Source: www.physorg.com/news78154749.html
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China appears to have it's lunar program on track, while NASA is just starting.