<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I'm surprised China would want to join the ISS programme, given their history of doing things their own way. Or do you think its more to gain the knowledge required to then go and build their own? <br />Posted by chanimanga</DIV></p><p>My should they not do both?</p><p>China are not an ISS partner and they are not likely to be asked to join until they have demonstrated their technical capability, including rendezvous and docking.</p><p>Even then, it is not certain whether they can reach the ISS with their current spacecraft and rockets.</p><p>I think they Chinese would see an invitation to join the ISS, or even to vsiit, as a great coup. But they are not counting on it.</p><p>Jon</p><p><br /><br /> </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em> Arthur Clarke</p> </div>