Another Race In Space .... Will The Weapons Soon Follow?

A Russian Proton-M rocket. (Photograph by STR/AFP/Getty Images)

International Space Dominance: 7 Nations Launching The Next Space Race -- Popular Mechanics

North Korea is about to launch its first satellite. Iran launched theirs last month. India's space agency recently got the green light to send people into space, and China's announced plans to build a space station. Getting to space is no longer for a few, technically apt nations. Here's a look at seven countries that have their sights on orbit and the capabilities to get there.

With a flurry of international efforts toward satellite launch capability (from one's home country), getting back to the moon and putting citizens in space, some experts say we are looking at a new space race–one focused on total space dominance. Should we be worried? After all, the first space race had at its core a battle for who could build the biggest intercontinental ballistic missiles.

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My Comment: With the world quickly becoming a "multi-polar" world, everyone is scrambling for an advantage. Space offers one big advantage for anyone who wants to put the resources and manpower into it. While the initial focus will be scientific and economic, one can expect military applications to quickly follow.

The list that Popular Mechanics provides is a who's who in the arms industry.