China's Space Shot a Prelude to Manned Flight

NPR | By Rob Gifford

Published December 30, 2002 at 12:00 AM EST

China launches its fourth unmanned space capsule into Earth orbit. The government said the program could "soon lead to a manned space voyage." NPR's Rob Gifford and Renee Montagne discuss why the race to space is so important to China's national pride.

Rob Gifford

Rob Gifford is the NPR foreign correspondent based in Shanghai.

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