(Space Travel) Russia will sign a contract with South Korea December 7 to launch the East Asian country's first astronaut on board a Russian carrier rocket in 2008, the Federal Space Agency said Wednesday. The number of hopefuls to become South Korea's first ever astronaut has dropped from 36,000 to 30. The final candidate and one reserve will be selected soon. [...]
"The project has the South Korean president's special support, and will serve to strengthen relations between Russia and South Korea," Panarin said, adding the project was 100% financed by Seoul.
Although science fiction writers often portray space as dominated by western ideals, with South Korea's entry space may become more Asian in appearance. The Korean democracy probably does not want to get left behind as the major space powers grab their share of resources above, and probably wants to slice out a pie for themselves.
Putting their first astronaut into orbit should help fuel the space passion for that little penisula, and perhaps help ease the tension between the two Korea's (as they are virtually brothers).
Note: With both China and South Korea sending up humans in space, where is Japan in all of this?
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Although science fiction writers often portray space as dominated by western ideals, with South Korea's entry space may become more Asian in appearance.
ReplyDeleteI think that a viable case can be made that Western ideals are becoming more global as time passes i.e. the Anglosphere concept has spread from the British Isles to America and beyond - I think Japan, South Korea and India can be said to be in that sphere, and bring some of their own culture to the party.
Which is a good thing, I think. The future belongs to a culture that is endlessly adaptable and can adjust to new ideas and circumstances.
I can easily a ROK habitat co-existing as a peer competitor with a Japanese, Indian and North American habitat - trading partners and swapping culture and citizens easier than their terrestrial counterparts do now.
Ironically that might be a good thing (exchange of cultures) as planet Earth becomes a bit more hostile due to fanatics attempting to acquire dangerous toys.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a cultural exchange in space can form a model for those on earth.
Although this can only happen if more nations get up there in the first place.