This year will be a critical one for the Chinese space program. For the first time, missions that will break new ground in the manned space program, in the series of lunar missions, and in deep space on a mission to Mars, will be carried out simultaneously. Only the United States has had, in the past, a space program of such breadth. Up until a year ago, the Chinese space program was largely ridiculed in the American press, by news commentators, and even elected officials. China was accused of doing...