Slashdot Mirror
China's Space Launch Near; Malaysia Wants One, Too
Enoch Root writes "According to an article on People's Daily Online, a Chinese news service, the first Chinese manned space launch is set to take place in the next few days, between October 15th and October 17th. Space.com has an interesting article on the subject, including a satellite snapshot of the Jiuquan, strongly suggesting the imminent launch." And alphaque writes "Malaysia is calling for interested applicants aged 21 and above to be its first cosmonaut aboard the International Space Station. The ability to speak Russian and prior space exploration experience is a definite plus, they say. Applications can be made online at your nearest astronaut recruitment site. Light sabres optional. Now the floodgates are open. Boldly go where no Malaysian has gone before -- to space, the final frontier." Offer is for Malaysians only, though.
Beware...
China becoming an economic superpower would be a good thing, both for its citizens and potentially for the rest of the world (they'll have more money to buy our stuff).
Your assumption is that China will "do bad things" if it becomes a superpower, but I don't think that is a given. The neo-Cons in the current US administration don't want any country to threaten the USAs current economic pole position, and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep the USA there. I think that view is narrow minded, and could be damaging for everyone in the long term. Fortunately it looks like the neo-Cons are finding that their gung-ho attitiude to world affairs don't actually get the results they expect.