Rockets Red Glare

While I was away yesterday, we saw two significant space-related events take place. One was the successful launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, and the concerns about the foam appear to have abated as a preliminary survey has shown that there were no troublesome strikes against the shuttle's heat protection systems. There had been concerns over foam problems before launch as the heat cycles of loading and unloading cryogenic fuels caused some foam to flake off before the launch.

Meanwhile, half a world away, North Korea launched not one, but seven missiles. The most worrisome test, of their longest range multistage Taepodong-2, either failed or aborted about 45 seconds after launch. It is possible that the North simply chose to abort the missile rather than have it fly to its full distance, although an alternative, and far less likely, possibility is that the missile was sabotaged so that it could not succeed in its mission.

The whole issue is expected to come up before the UN Security Council. Expect a sharply worded statement, though the following story might mean that we might even get a resolution on the matter.

If the North Koreans don't make any sense, it isn't just confounding to the US. The Chinese are having issues as well. The North Koreans pretty much stole trains carrying the food and humanitarian aid the Chinese were giving as part of a package of aid to keep the North from starving. Well, the North considered the trains to be part of the package deal and kept the trains. They sent back the Chinese crews, but kept the trains because the North Korean train-stock is falling apart.

The North has put all of its energies into weapons systems and nuclear weapons production and nothing towards anything that might actually benefit the citizens of North Korea.

And they're threatening to piss off their benefactor, the Chinese, over stealing a bunch of trains that were being used to carry humanitarian aid.

UPDATE:
I'm sure the Russians wouldn't be thrilled to know that the North Korean missiles are coming down near their territory either.

I tell ya, those North Koreans are starving for attention. And they're determined to piss off all their neighbors and backers in the process.

UPDATE:
You know your missiles suck when GOP Vixens has a humorous take on the NK missile launches.

UPDATE:
Hot Air, Michelle Malkin, and Austin Bay both have more on the North Korean missile gambit.

Others noting the situation include: Outside the Beltway, Ninth State, Macranger, Stop the ACLU, and It Shines for All.

UPDATE:
Russia and China are still sticking by North Korea, despite the fact that L'il Kim is as destabilizing an influence in international relations as one can get.

And the failed launches show that North Korea hasn't quite gotten its technological prowess to meet its bluster.

UPDATE:
Kim at Wizbang notes that the North has a bunch more missiles ready for launch, including another Taepodong-2 long range missile. It looks like the North is serious about trying to get one of their missiles to launch and operate properly.

US missile defense systems have been scanning the skies for any such launches, which is precisely what they should be doing under the circumstances. If anything, this gives the US forces test runs under real conditions to see how their systems function in acquisition and tracking modes.

The UN is going to take up the situation. Don't hold your breath - especially when China and Russia are running interference. That's a surefire guarantee that nothing will come of the diplomatic maneuvers at the UN.

Others blogging the North Korean missile launch situation include: Obligatory Anecdotes, FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog, Assorted Babble by Suzie (who has a substantial roundup), Blogs of War, Suitably Flip, Infidels Bloggers Alliance, and Blue Crab Boulevard.