Two articles caught my eye today when I made the science rounds:

China is preparing for its fourth and final test flight of the Shenzou space capsule, the success of which will pave the way to the first Chinese manned space flight. According to unofficial sources, nine fighter-pilot "taikonauts" have been training in secret, and are ready to show the the world that China has the right stuff, as soon as the technology is ready for them. I've mentioned in an earlier blog that the rumors are flying about a possible Chinese moon landing by 2010, but apparently China is now denying that. So I guess only time will tell. Go taikonauts! Thank goodness someone still sees the exploration of outer space as the next logical step in the evolution of mankind. I've heard from a friend working at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics that NASA doesn't even have any new projects on the table, thanks to a combination public indifference and Congressional hostility. Maybe the Chinese flag planted in the Sea of Tranquility will dope-slap us out of our ever-growing national solipsistic funk.

Okay, it's not a Killer Space Rock, but it could be in 2022 - this weekend we will be treated to a fly-by of asteroid 2002 NY40, which will pass so close to the Earth that it will actually be visible through binoculars or a small telescope. Get out there and take a gander!