Space Race Heats Up in Asia

SushiVSYamcha writes with a link to an article on the Seattle Times site, discussing the newly-heated Asian space race. Following Russia and the US into orbit are the nations of Japan and China, now struggling to one-up the other in a competition for scientific and national pride. The piece covers Japan's new initiative to catch up to the Chinese program, as well as some history of the competition "China launched its first manned space flight in 2003. A second mission in 2005 put two astronauts into orbit for a week, and a third manned launch is planned for next year. This year, China also plans to launch a probe that will orbit the moon. Earlier this month, the country launched a Long March 3-A rocket that sent a navigation satellite into orbit as part of its effort to build a global positioning system. The satellite is the fourth China has launched as part of the Compass navigation system, which is expected to be operational in 2008."

Implications

[ShorePiper82]

In a moment of amazing forethought: Asia (read as: Sony) launches the first 2,400 mile HD plasma TV into space (with all the best channels Direct TV has to offer). followed quickly by equal sized Google ad-satellites. I'm switching from cable.

Yahoo News Photo... China already landed on Moon

[The Media Mechanic]

China already landed their 5th astronaut on the moon... Check out this Yahoo News Photo that was posted recently! It is conclusive evidence of China landing on the Moon!! http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070415/480/0396ebd938f 6423fab2ab1e8de16c8c2 [yahoo.com]

Re:Implications

[AtlasAxe]

As long as I get the remote, I'm fine with that.

Re:competition for scientific and national pride ?

[powerlord]

mod parent up. I don't trust anything done by the Chinese government. Beware the red dragon.

True, the Red, Blue, Green and Black ones (as well as all the Chromatic Dragons [wikipedia.org]) are Evil.

You can probably trust the Brass, Copper, Bronze, Silver and Gold varieties though, since the Metallic dragons [wikipedia.org] are Good (although Chaotic Good in quite a few cases).

I suppose it depends on your DM interprets alignment [wikipedia.org] though.

Re:competition for scientific and national pride ?

[kabocox]

China's too busy taking our money to want to nuke us.
Now if we go bankrupt, then we'd have something to worry about.

Nah, then they wouldn't have to bother nuking us. They could just buy us out/up.

Uh Oh

[Laura_DilDio]

This year, China also plans to launch a probe that will orbit the moon.

It won't be long until there's conclusive evidence that the US has never put a man on the moon!

Oh *space* race

[Wannabe Code Monkey]

the newly-heated Asian space race

Why, oh why couldn't that have been the newly-heated Asian spice race? Imagine curry going up against wasabi; new versions of kung pao chicken; the hotter the better.