China Heading to Moon - With or Without NASA

Zhang, a long-time advocate for closer space ties with the ESA and NASA, acknowledged there are "many political and social differences still dividing us that would have to be overcome" before wider cooperation with the United States could occur.

clipped from en.ce.cn The file photo shows Chinese "taikonauts" in training. China's Shenzhou VII clipped from news.nationalgeographic.com China is counting down toward Friday's launch of its most challenging space mission yet, which is set to include the country's first space walk. The mission furthers an ambitious space program that plans to build a base on the moon—in cooperation with NASA or not. "We intend to send astronauts to the moon and ultimately to build a lunar outpost," said Zhang Qingwei, who was until recently a leader of China's manned space program. Zhang now heads a new corporation that aims to become the Chinese equivalent of the U.S. and French companies, respectively, Boeing and Airbus. Zhang said China would be willing to participate in the international lunar outpost designed by NASA. Astronauts are scheduled to begin building that settlement in 2020. Alternatively, China could assemble its own moon base, he said. clipped from spaceports.blogspot.com Zhai Zhigang, 42, a colonel in the People's Liberation Army, will be the first Chinese taikonaut to walk in space.