Fourth of July launches

Congratulations to the people at NASA for a successful launch of Space Shuttle Discovery yesterday. It was the first Independence Day launch in NASA’s history. Everything from the initial observations of the launch seemed in great working order, and the crew will be able to see over the next few days if there has been any damage that needs repair before re-entry. I have to say that space travel is something that I know very little about, because my mind just does not think like that. Yet I am fascinated by it, and honestly can’t get enough of it. Just after take off yesterday, after the separation of the external boosters had been complete and the Shuttle had been airborne for about four or five minutes the shuttle was traveling at over 7,000 miles per hour or about four miles per second… Four miles per second!! That is so incredible to me. Look to Intelligent Confusion for updates on Discovery’s 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Apparently Kim Jong Il is more nuts than ever thought possible before. North Korea tested more long-range missiles yesterday, including the infamous Taepodong II missile. North Korea got Japan’s attention by launching a missile into the Sea of Japan during a busy rush hour in Tokyo. Japan responded with cutting off transport and trade routes to North Korea via air and sea. China even responded with a late statement condemning the acts, but calling for peaceful and diplomatic needs in responding to the tests. I have to say that North Korea is dumber than I ever thought possible. They now have ticked off another major power in Asia, and China is not far behind. Japan and the U.S. want the U.N. to issue immediate sanctions against North Korea. There have been attempts in the past to sanction North Korea, but China and Russia have blocked such attempts. The U.S. is hoping that such actions will not happen this time. The funny thing in all of this is North Korea’s technology seems to be a bit lacking as the test of their Taepodong II missile failed, it crashed into the sea long before the projected aquatic target. Many say that this proves that North Korean technology is far inferior to that of their enemy counterparts. The thought is that this was more of a show on North Korea’s part than any strategic testing on the part of the North Koreans. They want to show the world that they have these missiles, and they are not afraid to launch them. I am not as concerned about North Korea as others because I think that North Korea is blowing a lot of smoke. Yet it is also valid to say that Kim Jong Il is so completely nuts that he would do something entirely irrational. I think that the best way to go forward with this is to continue the six party talks, and try and see if the U.N. is capable of setting appropriate sanctions. Kim Jong Il has said that any such sanctions would be an act of war, but if China, Japan, Russia, and America are all on the same side (along with others), than I like our chances.