China is aiming to become the world’s next space power. However, in an effort to achieve domestic policy objectives and boost national pride, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is adding a new, unpredictable dimension to a stable and profitable Sino-American relationship. This month, Chinese astronauts will attempt to orbit the Earth, pushing expectations to heights unseen since the Soviet-American space race of the 1960s. The United States, which has grounded its space shuttle programme and whose citizens are still reeling from the Columbia tragedy, is awaiting the Chinese attempt with unease.