Michael Griffin, N3RA

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, N3RA, visits China

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, N3RA, begins a trip to China this weekend, marking the first time a NASA administrator visits the country. (See Itinerary Below.)

Griffin is making this visit at the invitation of Laiyan Sun, administrator of the China National Space Administration. His visit runs from Saturday to Thursday and includes stops in Beijing and Shanghai. During his trip, Griffin will tour a number of aerospace facilities.

"My goal is to become acquainted with my counterparts in China and to understand their goals for space exploration," Griffin said.

Senior NASA officials accompanying Griffin to China include Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier, Assistant Administrator for External Relations Michael O'Brien and NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid, all of whom have extensive experience working with other nations' space programs.

For Lucid, it's a homecoming of sorts. She was born in China and spent much of her childhood there.

Read More: Shannon Lucid Looks Forward to China Homecoming

Adminstrator Griffin's Itinerary

Sunday, September 24
Beijing, China
--Meeting with administrator of China National Space Administration
--Visit to Chinese Academy of Space Technology and meeting with CAST president
--Visit to Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Space Science and Applied Research and meeting with center director

Monday, September 25
Beijing, China
--Meeting with Chinese Minister of Science and Technology
--Speech at Chinese Academy of Sciences
--Tour of National Satellite Meterological Center

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