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Uh oh. It seems that an Indonesian communications satellite launched yesterday from the Xichang launch site in Sichuan province didn't quite make it to its predestined orbit. While the launch made it into space, it failed to ignite in its third stage, and is now floating somewhere where it shouldn't be - a pretty bad deal for a communications satellite. China has been trying to build up its space program, but keeps suffering from setbacks: another satellite, launched in 2007, failed earlier this year after just 18 months in orbit. It would probably be good for the country to learn how to properly launch things - If we know anything about deadlines in China, then their plan to have a moon landing in 2012 means a moon landing in 2012, by hook or crook. We can't help but chew our nails nervously, and be grateful that we're not Chinese astronauts.
Satellite launch fails to reach correct orbit
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"It would probably be good for the country to learn how to properly launch things"?
Not to mention the other "things" China launched into space, since 1970, China launched over hundred satellites up to 8 tonnes, including some for a dozen foreign countries. Few failures are not big deal worth blogging, compared with South Korean who simply dropped satellite as a bomb over Australia, a sad news you hate to even let others know since it is a "democratic pal".