Sacred Vessel in orbit China has successfully launched another space capsule into space. The capsule, with all the equipment onboard for a manned flight, was laucnhed from the Gobi desert aboard a Shenzhou IV rocket. The capsule is expected to orbit for 7 days before returning to Earth. In the last few years, the Chinese have been increasing their spending on their space program. Hand picked fighter pilots have been training for the manned missions that are in the works. China also aims to go to the Moon after doing the manned orbital flights. There is a whole bunch of things tied into China's recent push to get to space - prestige, at being one of the few nations to have sent people into space; an exercise to demonstrate China's tecnological capabilities; a warning to the US who's dominant presence in the Asia-Pacific region China wishes to challenge; and just plain home grown pride. Regardless of the reasons, let's hope they succed, and let's hope this pushes the US to increase spending in the space program.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Of Movies ...

Some movies that I have an interest in this month -- I will not get to them all. X-Men III: The Last Stand -- 'nuff said! No Logo - Brands, Globalization & Resistance -- based on the book of the same title, this movie is playing at the Bloor Cinema on June 29 & 30. Sophie Scholl: The Final Days -- the story of Germany's most famous anti-Nazi heroine , who, as part of the White Rose, was dedicated to the downfall of the Third Reich. The movie plays at the Bloor Cinema from June 25-27. Thank You For Smoking -- playing at the Bloor Cinema from June 23-37. Tsotsi -- a look at life in the ghettos outside of present-day Johannesburg, South Africa, through Tsotsi, a young thug. There is redemption for Tsotsi, and the film won the 2006 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. It plays at the Bloor Cinema on June 14 & 16. Why We Fight -- a documentary that explores why America goes to war and the role of the military-industrial complex. This played today at the ...
Read more

Of Movies

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut -- This is one hilarious movie -- but boy is it rude. It's rude beyond the point of being offensive. The movie takes the good taste filter off and amuses with humour that simulate the juvenile in us. Every now and again though, that little kid in us needs to be amused -- and this movie will certainly do that. If you're offended by the movie, it's because the adult in you is watching. The Brothers Grimm -- This was an OK fantasy movie, moving at a good pace, with the appropriate level of action and humour. The special effects were well done -- and so was the cinematography. If you missed it in the theatre, you didn't miss much however. You can catch it on DVD. The Aristocrats -- This is a movie about a joke. One joke. That's it. The delivery however -- now that was something else. The delivery was sick, sick, sick. This is an in-joke for comedians that have been numbed by jokes for us regular folk. The only thi...
Read more

Blogs of Note

Who Would Jesus Hate? -- described as providing "anecdotal evidence of how religion is on the wrong side of every social issue." Fugetaboutit! -- hilarious site from a "48-year-old shrinking Italian comedian ." Take the tagline for instance: "I saw the face of Jesus in my lasagna ... briefly."
Read more