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| East Asia |
| Japan scuttles two NKor surveillance satellites shortly after launch |
| 2003-11-29 |
| EFL Japanese officials have blown up a rocket carrying two spy satellites intended to monitor North Korea. Officials at the Japanese space programme said the rocket had to be destroyed after take-off because of an unspecified technical failure. The original launch had been scheduled for September, but was postponed three times because of technical problems. "Shortly after the launch, we sent a destroy order to the rocket as we concluded that the mission cannot fulfil the purpose," said spokesperson Shoko Yamamoto. "We cannot tell further details, but at least we can say this mission ended in failure." Japan already has two satellites monitoring North Korea, which is suspected of developing nuclear weapons. The BBC’s Jonathan Head [*snigger*] in Tokyo says the incident is an embarrassing setback for Japan, just weeks after China - a technologically less advanced country - put a man into space. North Korea has denounced the deployment of the first two satellites as a "hostile act" that could trigger a renewed arms race. The satellite project was intended as a response to North Korea’s firing of a ballistic missile over Japan into the Pacific in August 1998. "It really shocked the Japanese. They realised that they’ve got to wake up and not be 100% reliant on the US," Victor Cha, Professor of Government and Asian Studies at Washington DC’s Georgetown University told BBC News Online. Until then Japan bought commercial satellite photos from the US and France. The launch came at a sensitive time for Japan and North Korea as the two countries prepared to sit down at six-way talks to resolve the crisis over Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions. Some 400 police were around the launch site on the southern island of Tanegashima. Coast guard ships were patrolling waters to thwart possible terrorist attacks or a possible attempt by North Korea to disrupt the launch. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #6 OP! and OT... It is time to make Jihad in Gainesville... You're a Panama jungle Nole? Time all the closet Noles to think postive thoughts. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-11-29 12:51:25 PM |
| #5 OP ole Bud, something is wrong with your sense of aerodynamics... the F-4 is a a sleek article of flying fun. You're just jealous cause the Navy invented it. Of course you're right tho, a brick with attitude. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-11-29 12:38:02 PM |
| #4 We got any surplus KH-1s sitting around? If we do, they're in a museum, where they belong! We're talking 1950's technology. I'm sure Japan can create something quite a bit more sophisticated than something that produces 6-meter resolution. Even SPOT, the French satellite, and the US LandSat produce 1- and 3-meter resolution, respectively. I'm sure the Japanese will have their launch vehicle problem straightened out soon. As for the Chinese launch, brute force will work every time. Just look at the old F-4 - proof positive that if you provide enough power, even a lead brick can be made to fly. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-11-29 10:38:18 AM |
| #3 Hey OP! We got any surplus KH-1s sitting around? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-11-29 9:12:14 AM |
| #2 "It really shocked the Japanese. They realised that they’ve got to wake up and not be 100% reliant on the US," They shouldn't sweat it. We're 100% reliant on them to build hybrid cars. Hell, we can probably give them the satellites with all the money we are going to save on gas. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2003-11-29 7:42:47 AM |
| #1 "It really shocked the Japanese. They realised that they’ve got to wake up and not be 100% reliant on the US," They shouldn't sweat it. We're 100% reliant on them to build hybrid cars. Hell, we can probably give them the satellites with all the money we are going to save on gas. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2003-11-29 7:42:40 AM |