U.S.-China Meeting Sponsored by Space Foundation Opens New Line of Communications

U.S.-China Meeting Sponsored by Space Foundation Opens New Line of Communications

A meeting last week between U.S. former astronauts, Chinese astronauts, and others, sponsored by the Space Foundation, opened a new channel of communications according to Aviation Week and Space Technology.

The U.S. visitors were shown the Shenzhou 8 orbital module and reentry capsule and a Tiangong 1 orbital target with which the Shenzhou 8 crew will practice orbital operations, according to the magazine. They also reportedly were shown the Change-2 robotic lunar orbiter scheduled for launch in 2010.

The group included former U.S. astronauts Tom Henricks, now president of Aviation Week, and Fred Gregory, former Deputy Administrator of NASA, as well as five of the six Chinese astronauts who have flown in space, according to the magazine. It also reported that NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, a former astronaut himself, plans to visit China “before the end of the year.”

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