http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47830536/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.T9vhiRdYvng

“JIUQUAN, China — China is sending its first woman into outer space this weekend, prompting a surge of national pride as the rising power takes another step toward putting a space station in orbit within the decade.

“Liu Yang, a 33-year-old fighter pilot, will join two other astronauts aboard the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft when it lifts off from a remote Gobi Desert launch site on Saturday evening (6:37 p.m. Beijing time, 6:37 a.m. ET).

“They will attempt a crew-controlled docking for the first time with the uncrewed Tiangong 1 module, which was launched last September as part of China’s exploratory preparations for a space lab. The module is now orbiting 213 miles (343 kilometers) above Earth.”

I find this to be amazing.  I wish them all the well in the world.