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The next time the United States decides to venture into space, it won't be going alone. Future missions beyond Earth will include Russian, European, Japanese, Canadian and possibly Chinese partners, under a new national space policy unveiled by the Obama administration this week. The ventures will start with projects to build confidence, gain trust and find common ground, such as cleaning up orbital debris, sharing climate information about the planet and collaborating on science missions. The International Space Station could even be tapped for trial runs, though obstacles remain.

An intensive review of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) future plans - for manned spaceflight programs in particular - is coming to a close. A summary report including several recommendations by the Review of US Human Space Flight Plans Committee has just been released. The authors say that NASA can still return US astronauts to the moon in the not too distant future, and even retain its vision to push ahead with a manned NASA spaceflight to Mars, but at a considerably slower pace and only if sufficient funds are approved by the US Congress.

WENCHANG, Hainan, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday began construction of its new space launch center in Wenchang City, on the northeast coast of the tropical island province of Hainan, which is scheduled to be completed by 2013.

NASA’s Mike Griffin is set for his own personal space travel trek next month, flying overseas to Russia, Japan, and China. Last April, during the visit of China’s President Hu Jintao to the United States, the Chinese extended an invitation to Griffin to tour their space facilities. “President Bush accepted that invitation, so the plan is that I will go. I’m looking forward to it,” he told SPACE.com. As far as hopes and expectations of the meeting, Griffin said: “I’m not really setting expectations. It’s a get acquainted visit. There are no pre-conditions on either side. There are no demands...

Outer space is emerging as a possible theater of operations for China's armed forces, an analysis published in the mass-circulation People's Daily said Wednesday. The analysis, authored by a group of unnamed researchers at the National Defense University, listed space as an area where the People's Liberation Army must be equipped and prepared to defend the nation's interests. "Our military should not only protect China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, but should also protect the oceans and transport routes and other economic interests as well as ... the security of space," it said.

BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese space agency official said here on Wednesday that China would actively plan its deep space exploration over the next five years, focusing on lunar and Mars exploration. Sun Laiyan, administrator of the China National Space Administration, said China would study the distribution and utilization of lunar resources and terrestrial planetary science as well as exploring scientific measures for supporting mankind's sustainable survival on Earth. Key research areas will also include astronomy and solar physics, space physics and solar system exploration, micro-gravity sciences and space life science.

China’s space program, and its potential to be an adversary or ally to American space efforts, has been the subject in recent months of considerable debate, informed or otherwise. It’s the “otherwise” that has been the problem: much of the debate has been based on limited or inaccurate information about Chinese space efforts, onto which people apply their own perceptions—and misconceptions—about China in general. Such an approach can be a hazardous way to set policy. Stepping into this debate are two key members of the Congress, Reps. Mark Kirk and Rick Larsen. The two serve as co-chairs of the US-China...

China’s escalating expertise in space is also enhancing its competence as a global military force. Along with lofting future radar, ocean surveillance, and high-resolution photoreconnaissance satellites, China’s rise as a space power also includes pursuit of an offensive anti-satellite system. Those observations are included in a new report—Military Power of the People’s Republic of China: A Report to Congress—issued by the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense. The annual Pentagon report issued late last month addresses the current and future military strategy of the People’s Republic of China. It takes a look at the current and probable future course...

China is looking forward to an upcoming visit by the head of NASA but has called on the United States to be more welcoming to its space officials, state media said Thursday. US National Aeronautic and Space Administration chief Michael Griffin said last month he had accepted an invitation from the China National Space Administration to visit the country, although no date has yet been announced.

Three years ago, China placed its burgeoning economic and technical muscle on display for the world when it became the third country, after the United States and Russia, to send an astronaut into space. The flight, and a second one that carried two space travelers into orbit in October 2005, caused many Western experts to speculate on China's ambitions and compare them with NASA's strategy to return American explorers to the moon in the next few years.

On 26th of this month, the US Cable News Network and some other media published a same piece of news: NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said he has accepted the invitation to visit Beijing and will have negotiation with China on the possibility for the US-China cooperation in the sphere of space. Earlier, Luo Ge, Vice Administrator of China National Space Administration paid an informal visit to NASA. Despite the low-key statement of Griffin and the visit by Luo Ge, many people raise the same question here: will there be a day when the Chinese and US astronauts fly to the...

A spokesman for Joss Whedon, creator of Firefly and its spinoff movie, Serenity, told SCI FI Wire that Whedon hasn't heard of Ace Underhill, an entrepreneur who said he is trying to acquire the rights to the SF TV franchise for purposes of mounting a second season to be distributed in alternative media. "Joss doesn't really know anything about that guy, and I don't really think he has a comment," Whedon's spokesman said in response to questions about Underhill's efforts. For his part, Underhill told SCI FI Wire that he has contacted Whedon's representatives about starting up a new season...

Captain Mal and the crew of Serenity need your help to stay flying. We are looking to push the envelope of episodic television by offering Season Two of Firefly in a groundbreaking new format. Each episode (or the entire season) would be made available for purchase in Standard or Hi-Definition. It's possible that subscribers may choose one of three playback options; monthly DVD deliveries, TV On-Demand using your cable or satellite provider, or computer viewing via Streaming Download. It's also possible that a box set of DVD's would be available at the end of the season. In order for our...

This will be the official thread for all Serenity/Firefly related info,reviews and pictures...

Many of us Sci-Fi fans have been waiting on this one. Universal bumped the release date to September due to "The Interpreter" being released this past weekend. But the trailer is now online and may be shown with "Hitchhikers Guide" this Friday. Enjoy!