China rekindles space race

The launch of China´s first astronaut, Yang Liwei, on 15 October 2003 has set the cat among the pigeons in the formerly complacent roost of experienced space travellers. As only the third nation to place one of its citizens in orbit using its own technology, China has secured its place in space history. The author discusses what this manned flight means for the world´s space industry and the politics associated with it.