Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut, had a suprise visior during his meeting with Senator (and former Astronaut) Bill Nelson (D-FL): Buzz Aldrin, second man to walk on the moon.
Aldrin has been a man on fire trying to promote U.S.-Chinese space cooperation; it looks like he’s scored some Congressional support. Senator Nelson reportedly asked the Chinese Ambassador, also present at the meeting “So when are China and the United States going to cooperate together in space exploration, Mr Ambassador?”
After the Chinese Ambassador encouraged the idea, Nelson added, “I want us to go to Mars and I think we ought to go to Mars together.” I can think of better ideas than going to Mars, but perhaps this will blunt some of the “space race” talk that keeps popping up.