As technology makes the world smaller, it's also helping more countries escape to the heavens. (Ground control to Major Olawale!) But don't start daydreaming of UN meetings on Mars and space walks for peace: These space programs are all about blasting surveillance tech, comet chasers, super telescopes, and celestial probes into the (increasingly crowded) cosmos.
Nigeria
Program Founded: 1998
Budget: $93 million (initial funding)
Yes, Nigeria actually has its own space agency. The organization sent up its first satellite, a weather unit, back in 2003. In May 2007, China assisted in the launch of NigComSat-1, which helps provide Internet access to rural areas of the country.
Algeria
Program Founded: 2002
Budget: Unknown
France helped establish a constellation of desert launch sites more than 60 years ago. In 2002, the newly formed Agence Spatiale Algerienne blasted up Alsat-1, a 200-pound cube that has beamed back more than 1,000 photos as well as intel for disaster relief.
Israel
Program Founded: 1983
Budget: $50 million (est.)
Israel's Shavit launch vehicle is used primarily for communications, imaging, and research satellites — always over the Mediterranean to avoid flying above hostile neighbors. The first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon, died aboard the NASA shuttle Columbia.
India
Program Founded: 1972
Budget: $1 billion
India's space agency is racing to be the sixth program to reach the moon (after Russia, the US, Europe, Japan, and China) with Chandrayaan-1 — an $83 million lunar orbiter carrying NASA and ESA instruments. India aims to send up its own manned lunar mission by 2020.
Iran
Program Founded: 2003
Budget: $100 million
In October 2005, Iran launched its first satellite, Sina-1, aboard a Russian rocket. Earlier this year, the country fired its own rocket, Kavoshgar-1, designed to scout future orbital paths. By 2010, Tehran expects to deploy four additional satellites.
Brazil
Program Founded: 1994
Budget: $125 million
In 2003, an explosion on the launch pad took 21 lives. But Brazil rebounded the next year, when a VSB-30 rocket reached an altitude of 160 miles. In 2006, Marcos Pontes became the first Brazilian in space, floating aboard the International Space Station for eight days.
Japan
Program Founded: 2003
Budget: $2.5 billion
Japan has yet to build a spacecraft fit for humans. But it did send the first journalist into space: 18 years ago, Toyohiro Akiyama spent a week on the Russian space station Mir. The Japanese are eyeing a lunar landing in 2020 and hoping to build a base on the moon by 2030.
China
Program Founded: 1993
Budget: $2 billion (est.)
From the Gobi Desert, China sent its first human into orbit in 2003 — becoming the fourth agency to do so. Today, manned missions are taking off on a regular basis. Officials are planning China's first space walk this fall and expect to launch a moon rover by 2012.
European Space Agency
Program Founded: 1975
Budget: $5 billion
On the ESA's plate: launching the James Webb Space Telescope (with NASA and Canada) in 2013. The following year, its Rosetta spacecraft will meet up with 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for the first long-term analysis of a comet.
Russia
Program Founded: 1920s
Budget: $1.5 billion
Russia helps fund its space program by licensing its rocket tech and assisting other countries' initiatives. (South Korea paid $25 million to send up its first citizen.) A joint effort with China aims to launch a soil-collecting satellite to the Martian moon Phobos in 2009.
* Wired apologizes to those countries funding space exploration that we did not mention, such as Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, and, likely, North Korea and Iraq.
http://www.wired.com/science/space/magazine/16-06/st_spacerace#
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Is There Any Country That Doesn't Have a Space Program?
'100 women raped daily in Karachi'
If a Karachi police surgeon is to be believed, on an average 100 rapes take place in the port city of Karachi alone, and mostly working women are the victims.
He said because of the "lengthy medical process and delayed justice system in Pakistan", only 0.5% of rape cases are reported to the police.
"On average, 100 women are raped every 24 hours in Karachi city alone, and a majority of them are working women. I am saying with full authority that such a large number of rape cases happen in the city. But very few rape survivors have the courage to come forward in search of justice," Additional Police Surgeon Zulfiqar Siyal said on Monday.
He added that a majority of the victims working as domestic help.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/100_women_raped_daily_in_Karachi/articleshow/3491246.cms
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Chandigarh's per capita income highest in India
Chandigarh has done it again! Leaving behind states with desirable metros and cities that seem to offer flashy lifestyles, it has walked away with the crown to be the country's jewel with the highest per capita income (PCI).
With its growth pegged at 11.49% monetarily and 6.39% in real terms, the coveted position comes to the UT for the fifth time in a row.
As per the latest figures released on Monday by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, the per capita income of Chandigarh for 2006-07 is Rs 99,262 at current prices and Rs 70,361 at constant prices.
Goa follows it with Rs 82,903 and Rs 54,850 for the same. Closest neighbour Punjab fares poorly with Rs 40,566 PCI at current prices and Rs 30,158 at constant prices.
Fortunately for Haryana, its scores are better at Rs 49,039 and Rs 35,779. The all-India figure for 2006-07 is Rs 29,642 at current prices and Rs 22,553 at constant prices. Delhi is rated third in the list, with figures of Rs 66,728 and Rs 50,565.
Tracing Chandigarh's trajectory RS Bawa, professor of economics, Guru Nanak Dev University), Amritsar, said, "The trend can be attributed to the overall character of the city which not only attracts well-paid executives but also retired top brass from the Army and other government departments." Calling it one of the most preferred places to settle down, he added, "It has an enviable infrastructure."
Even as the city can't boast of industrial growth, the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park has added to its attraction, drawing a lot of BPO units. "The city is likely to maintain its lead with improved air connectivity and more industries," said Bawa, ex-president of Indian Economics Association.
Throwing light on Punjab which has definitely lost its industrial edge, he added, "The government has taken some initiatives but these will take time to pay off. A large section of the industry has lately moved out of Punjab."
He also pointed out that the low paid strata of Chandigarh were concentrated on peripheral areas falling under Punjab or Haryana, much to the discredit of the two states. Interestingly, the detailed break-up of statistics proves that Chandigarh has moved away from the primary sector of occupation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarhs_per_capita_income_highest_in_India/articleshow/3487128.cms
Monday, September 15, 2008
Man of 100 Voices (Video)
Man of 100 Voices
Check this out - this guy impersonates 100 well known characters in under 5 minutes. Pretty impressive. This guy is talented for sure!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Symptoms of Inner Peace
Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:
* A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
* An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
* A loss of interest in judging other people.
* A loss of interest in judging self.
* A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
* A loss of interest in conflict.
* A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
* Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
* Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
* Frequent attacks of smiling.
* An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
* An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
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