Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Space

Asia focuses on the final frontier

By Peter Aldhous

19 October 2005

EVERY nation needs heroes. And China got two new ones in Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng when their Shenzhou VI capsule parachuted onto the grasslands of Inner Mongolia in the early hours of 17 October. Their five-day mission has become a bold statement of national pride, technological capability and intent to conquer space. And with a technologically savvy Japan and an emerging India both expanding their activities in space, there is much talk of a new space race in Asia.

But experts contacted by Âé¶¹´«Ã½ see it differently. While the years ahead will see Asia becoming a force…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop