Hurry, They’re Getting Ahead Of Us

According to this story, the Chinese are going to launch a space station. They don’t have a date, though:

China will launch Shenzhou VII with three astronauts in September 2008, after the Beijing Olympic Games…

After the launch of Shenzhou VII, a space station with 20 tons will be built…

Why wait until after the Olympics? What does this have to do with anything? Unless, of course, the purpose of the program is primarily for national prestige, as opposed to actually accomplishing something that’s important.

And “after the launch of Shenzhou VII” could be anywhere from October, 2008 (unlikely) until…the end of time. But we’d better hurry–we’re in a race!