The Wire

China may send its first female astronaut into space this year, in a flight that’s expected to lay the groundwork for a permanently manned space station. As China’s space program expands, questions are being asked about why Australian scientists aren’t able to co-operate more closely with their Chinese counterparts on the missions.

Some scientists and academic observers have told The Wire that unspoken rules and ‘cold war’ style security concerns are stymying Australian involvement in China’s push toward the moon.