I am about to compare the NK "space program" to the efforts of SpaceX.
http://www.spacex.com/. Before I receive a terminal flaming, let me emphasize the fact that the two enterprises exist in alternate universes when it comes to scientific and technical expertise. And intent, for that matter. Having said that, it is important to consider two things they have in common: 1) Limited resources. NK is poor, isolated, etc. SpaceX is not NASA. Because it is privately funded, it does not have NASA's (comparatively) deep pockets. 2) The early efforts of both programs (and NASA's!) have been "failures".
If success in actually achieving orbit is the only metric, SpaceX has a 75% failure rate. They didn't put anything into orbit until the fourth try. Elon Musk and company kept on trying. Now they are readying a fifth launch from their facility on Kwajalein Atoll, and they are preparing to launch an even larger rocket from Cape Canaveral.
I have no doubt that the scientists and engineers in NK also learn from their failures. Their most recent launch may not have been a failure at all. I agree that it was most likely an ICBM test and not an attempt to orbit a satellite to give the world Kim Jong Il's version of MTV. This is why I believe it is dangerous and short sighted to dismiss the NK space program as a NASA wannabe run by incompetents for whom the wheel and fire are the latest technology.
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I am about to compare the NK "space program" to the efforts of SpaceX. http://www.spacex.com/. Before I receive a terminal flaming, let me emphasize the fact that the two enterprises exist in alternate universes when it comes to scientific and technical expertise. And intent, for that matter. Having said that, it is important to consider two things they have in common: 1) Limited resources. NK is poor, isolated, etc. SpaceX is not NASA. Because it is privately funded, it does not have NASA's (comparatively) deep pockets. 2) The early efforts of both programs (and NASA's!) have been "failures". If success in actually achieving orbit is the only metric, SpaceX has a 75% failure rate. They didn't put anything into orbit until the fourth try. Elon Musk and company kept on trying. Now they are readying a fifth launch from their facility on Kwajalein Atoll, and they are preparing to launch an even larger rocket from Cape Canaveral. I have no doubt that the scientists and engineers in NK also learn from their failures. Their most recent launch may not have been a failure at all. I agree that it was most likely an ICBM test and not an attempt to orbit a satellite to give the world Kim Jong Il's version of MTV. This is why I believe it is dangerous and short sighted to dismiss the NK space program as a NASA wannabe run by incompetents for whom the wheel and fire are the latest technology.