On December 30th, China successfully launched an orbital mission involving a capsule that could have contained a Chinese astronaut, but instead held a mannequin. The capsule safely returned to earth. The next launch probably will contain a Chinese pilot. This is the fourth successful launch of this capsule, the first one having gone up in 1999. The third test, last March, also had a mannequin on board and lasted ten days. China is using Russian and American technology in creating their space program. Two American firms are being prosecuted for illegally providing the Chinese with rocket and satellite design technology.