China has already managed to successfully launch 2 manned spacecrafts into Earth orbit. By the end of this month, they’re planning to launch their third manned mission, and this time, one of the main objectives is to perform a space walk.
Chinese astronauts are sometimes referred to as taikonauts, and currently they comprise an extremely exclusive club.
Chinese officials have previously claimed they wish to send humans to the moon by 2020, which is the same landmark that Bush set for an American return to the moon. However, it seems the Chinese are now less optimistic about the 2020 deadline, although they did not abandon their lunar ambitions.
Especially in a time when the US economy is tumbling, China may find it easier to compete in the space race.
Savage Garden – To the Moon and back