Orbital Paths of U.S., China Set to Diverge

President Barack Obama's early initiative to explore joint manned space missions with China appears to have been stalled by the changing political winds on Capitol Hill—even as Beijing details ambitious plans to complete its first manned space station within the decade, according to The Wall Street Jorunal.

An apparent lack of concrete progress in talks on the subject last week suggests the U.S. could miss out on potential benefits, such as cheaper flights to the International Space Station, while China presses ahead with its space program and expands cooperation with Europe, Russia and others to get the technology and experience it needs.

Gen. Charles Bolden became the first head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to tour China's highly sensitive manned space flight facilities during his visit last week—access that both sides might have portrayed as a major breakthrough in a different climate. More from The Wall Street Journal.