Because it’s an expensive capability, & neither Iran nor (even more) N. Korea can recoup the cost by selling launches, as Arianespace does.

For Europe, developing satellite launchers has paid off, economically. For N. Korea, it is a drain on an economy which cannot bear it, which depends on aid to sustain itself. The only income either N. Korea or Iran gets, or is likely to get, from its rockets is from selling missiles & missile technology to countries incapable of developing their own. There is no such market for Iranian or N. Korean satellite launches.

Absolutely true.

However, sometimes independence in certain fields are by their very nature loss making programmes. Every country in the world has various types of these non economically viable programmes. It could be argued, not by me, that the military is one such example.;)

Also bear in mind that the ESA is supported by many nations within the EU, something a standalone nation does not have the luxury of.

Daz, a Zambezi was responsible for the earlier fatal attack at this beach. This is not to say it was the same species again. It may very well have been a Great White which are also found off South African shores.

The Zambezi shark is a very impressive creature though, and has been known to go very far up river.

Well, Israel actually launches their satellites into retrograde orbits, having the good sense not to provoke Iran or Iraq by overflying their territory. Then again, NK doesn’t even have that option, as the map provided by wilhelm illustrates

Precisely the reason why Israel used the Overberg Test Range on South Africa’s east coast. The Jericho (Israel) and RSA (South Africa) had the luxury of an un-impeded downrange area extending thousands of miles eastward into the Indian Ocean.

Also why European Space Agency uses French Guiana and the US sited Kennedy where it was. Obviously proximity to the equator played a role, but in the context of our discussion here, the uncluttered easterly aspect is most important. The Baikonur site was chosen due to the fact that east of Baikonur was thousands of kilometers of Soviet territory.

Recently, there has been talk of a new launch station and space centre in the extreme east of Amur.

I don’t care if it is a satellite. If they fly their crappy rocket over Japanese airspace, endangering the lives of people on the ground then it should be shot down.

Yawn …. just how dull-witted can one get?

Just where do you propose they fire their rocket? I’m going to assume you didn’t know that rockets bearing any orbital or sub-orbital payloads are fired in an easterly direction to take advantage of the earths spin.

Now look at a map.

Teenager dies after shark attack
A 16-year-old boy died after being attacked by a shark on Second beach in Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, The Herald Online reported on Monday.

Luyolo Mangele was part of a surfing exercise when the shark struck on Friday afternoon.

He was bitten in the leg and managed to paddle to shore where his instructor and a lifesaver pulled him out.

He was rushed to hospital where he later died.

“My brother was an avid surfer whose life revolved around swimming,” said Mangele’s brother, Luyanda, 21.

In January, Sikhanyiso Bangilizwe, 25, was killed by a Zambezi shark while swimming with his colleagues at the same beach.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20090323074737413C528769

Deport them to whatever land they or their forefathers came from. Or better yet, deport them to Basra.

Steady on Lad…that’s a huge statement!!!

It is, but I stand by it. I personally think it is certainly in the my top 5.:p

Have you seen it?

Ok.

I’ve now watched this 4 times in less than a year.

Daniel Day Lewis in one of the finest performances in cinematic history.

The wife and I were absolutely gobsmacked after watching this movie.

If you have not seen this movie, you are very much the poorer for it. Just watch it…..

There Will Be Blood