China Launch Imminent
Three 'taikonauts' have arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, where at least one of them will be launched possibly as soon as Wednesday (possibly Tuesday evening here in the US).

This launch will not have the shock value of the 1957 Soviet Sputnik launch, given that the Chinese have lifted some of the secrecy around the launch to gain a build-up of publicity. Some in the media are downplaying the flight as repeating forty year old accomplishments of the US and the Soviet Union. This is not entirely true, as the Shenzhou spacecraft has features to allow it to be used to assemble small space stations.

Space advocates hope that this new entry into human spaceflight will re-energize US space activities. Given media fickleness, it's not certain how this will play out. What can be pointed out is that while our Shuttle system is more sophisticated and capable, it is also very fragile, given that it is grounded following the February Columbia tragedy. The question is how to make our space transportation industry more robust. This is not merely a task for NASA, but a national policy decision demanding the attention of the White House and Capitol Hill. There is already some motion in that direction, with the introduction of the Commercial Space Act of 2003.

Finally, an intriguing article has been published by China Daily describing China's future plans in space emphasizing the use of energy and resources in space.