The Norks appear to have hit their tee shot into the water hazard

[Hutch]

It's being reported that the PDRK have had a spot of bother with their go at a missile, excuse me, SATELLITE launch.  It rather seems to have come up a bit short.  There appears to be a scavenger hunt on for the remains by interested parties, to include the friendly Koreans.  How dreadfully embarrassing for their new thug-in-chief.

[White Horseradish]

It's being reported that the PDRK have had a spot of bother with their go at a missile, excuse me, SATELLITE launch.

The 50,000-strong launch crew all got hernias? 

[Scout26]

[Don Adams voice]  Missed it by that much !!!   [Don Adams Voice]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPwrodxghrw

[White Horseradish]

[Don Adams voice]  Missed it by that much !!!   [Don Adams Voice]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPwrodxghrw

I LOLed. Love that show...

[French G.]

I can only hope that it was some airborne laser of ours that we don't know about that fried the thing.

[Azrael256]

I can only hope that it was some airborne laser of ours that we don't know about that fried the thing.

It's pretty well known: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1

But given their track record, I'm going to go with vanilla incompetence... Again.

[Physics]

Is it just me, or are they actually getting worse at rocket science?

[French G.]

It's pretty well known: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1

But given their track record, I'm going to go with vanilla incompetence... Again.

I know, the supposed word is that testbed is retired. I'm hoping it led to something better.

[geronimotwo]

i am curious as to what means they will use to save their pride.   another bombardment on sk?

[MillCreek]

Is it just me, or are they actually getting worse at rocket science?

I would point out that in the early days of the US rocket program, we had a whole lot of vehicles that blew up on the pad, shortly after liftoff or never made it to orbit.  Even today, the technologically-advanced countries still have failures. 

[Jocassee]

Poor Norks. Try hard, fail hard.

[MechAg94]

I don't mean to introduce too much politics, but Drudge has headlines about the US condemning this and calling it provacative.  Why?  It almost seems our govt is grandstanding a bit over seemingly nothing.

[AmbulanceDriver]

I think the reason it's being called provocative is that practically the whole world told the Norks to knock  it the [censored] off.  And they lit the fuse anyway.

[MechAg94]

I think the reason it's being called provocative is that practically the whole world told the Norks to knock  it the [censored] off.  And they lit the fuse anyway.

Okay, but even I know that they wouldn't listen to anyone.  Trying to order someone around when you know they won't listen is foolish.

[Hawkmoon]

I don't mean to introduce too much politics, but Drudge has headlines about the US condemning this and calling it provacative.  Why?  It almost seems our govt is grandstanding a bit over seemingly nothing.

The issue is that the rocket vehicle used to launch a satellite is the same rocket vehicle used to carry an ICBM. Most of the world believes this was nothing more than a test of an ICBM, disguised as a satellite launch. The North Koreans don't need any satellites -- they have no peaceful scientific programs that would benefit from such.

Further, the UN specifically prohibited NK from conducting any further tests of such equipment. So, even claiming it was for a satellite rather than for a missile, the NKs thumbed their collective noses at the UN by proceeding with the test.

[vaskidmark]

The issue is that the rocket vehicle used to launch a satellite is the same rocket vehicle used to carry an ICBM. Most of the world believes this was nothing more than a test of an ICBM, disguised as a satellite launch. The North Koreans don't need any satellites -- they have no peaceful scientific programs that would benefit from such.

Further, the UN specifically prohibited NK from conducting any further tests of such equipment. So, even claiming it was for a satellite rather than for a missile, the NKs thumbed their collective noses at the UN by proceeding with the test.

The first paragraph describes something "Bad".

The second paragraph describes something "Not Bad" bordering on "Good".

stay safe.

[TommyGunn]

It's pretty well known: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1.....

Obama CANCELED it!!!!   

[Boomhauer]

I would point out that in the early days of the US rocket program, we had a whole lot of vehicles that blew up on the pad, shortly after liftoff or never made it to orbit.  Even today, the technologically-advanced countries still have failures. 

Don't forget the NK method. If the first group of engineers/scientists fail, shoot them and get another group. Let them learn from mistakes? Surely you jest!

[MillCreek]

Obama CANCELED it!!!!   

In all fairness to the current Administration, it had been on the bubble for quite a few years now.  I just don't think the cost-benefit ratio was there.

[MillCreek]

Don't forget the NK method. If the first group of engineers/scientists fail, shoot them and get another group. Let them learn from mistakes? Surely you jest!

Thank goodness we had the benefit of former Nazis to jumpstart our rocket program. 

[AJ Dual]

The issue is that the rocket vehicle used to launch a satellite is the same rocket vehicle used to carry an ICBM. Most of the world believes this was nothing more than a test of an ICBM, disguised as a satellite launch. The North Koreans don't need any satellites -- they have no peaceful scientific programs that would benefit from such.

Further, the UN specifically prohibited NK from conducting any further tests of such equipment. So, even claiming it was for a satellite rather than for a missile, the NKs thumbed their collective noses at the UN by proceeding with the test.

Yepppers.

And besides the whole "Orbit =ICBM" thing, a bomb in orbit can have less warning than even IRBMs from a SSBN parked off your shoreline.

Google "FOBS". A tech deemed destabilizing to MAD with such first strike potential the Soviets abandoned it.

[birdman]

In all fairness to the current Administration, it had been on the bubble for quite a few years now.  I just don't think the cost-benefit ratio was there.

It wasn't.  The future looks...bright...though.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/asd/2011/12/21/02.xml&headline=Lights%20Out%20For%20The%20Airborne%20Laser

[BlueStarLizzard]

Is it just me, or are they actually getting worse at rocket science?

Well, what scientist from earlier generations they had are probably mostly dead via age (if they were lucky) or fireing squad (see Avengers post) and they havn't really been educating their last few generations (rememebr those russian guys photographs of the progressive school prototype with it's "computers") so the idea of them getting worse at science isn't really a suprise.

[RocketMan]

How much of the noise from the administration is meant to make Obama look knowledgable and engaged from a foreign policy standpoint?  It is an election year.

[birdman]

Yepppers.

And besides the whole "Orbit =ICBM" thing, a bomb in orbit can have less warning than even IRBMs from a SSBN parked off your shoreline.

Google "FOBS". A tech deemed destabilizing to MAD with such first strike potential the Soviets abandoned it.

If you mean by deploying SS-9 FOBS sufficiently that we put EW radars facing south...sure, abandoned.
Of course, that, or FOBS, wasn't a satellite with a bomb...F is FRACTIONAL, it was simply the "long way around"...of course, that doesn't mean you couldn't do multiple laps at that point, but neither ever intended on long term emplacement of orbiting weapons...FOBS was specifically NOT in orbit, so as to void outer-space treaty implications.