Griffin is China bound

NASA chief Mike Griffin says he's going to China because that's what the boss asked him to do. No details yet on when the historic trip will occur. The news nugget emerged Tuesday during a hearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space.

"The president advised me to accept. I will," Griffin told senators.

Apparently the invitation was extended last week when President Bush met with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House. (See our earlier item on Bush's request).

Beginning a dialogue with Chinese space program officials is a positive step for the U.S. space program, Griffin said. "It can't hurt us," he added.

China has a robust manned space program that has set a goal of putting one of their astronauts on the moon by the middle of the next decade, about when NASA hopes to return U.S. astronauts to the lunar surface. Some in Congress are wary of cooperating with China whom they condemn for human rights violations and suspect of having militaristic intentions in space.