Russian GPS Alternative Near Completion 177
Russia has successfully launched another round of GLONASS satellites bringing the grand total to 18 of the navigational units online. "The GPS competitor -- first begun in the Soviet era and only recently revived after years of post-collapse neglect -- is now theoretically capable of providing coverage to the entire Russian territory, with First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov claiming that the first compatible consumer devices will be available in the middle of next year. By 2010 Russia plans to open the system up to outside nations as well, contributing to an eventual three- or even four-system global market"
So... (Score:3, Insightful)
2nd srcing (Score:1, Insightful)
Why alternatives? (Score:3, Insightful)
2mm, China's COMPASS and more on GLONASS (Score:5, Insightful)
A little more related to GLONASS, there's COMPASS, the global positioning system of China. It's first satellite was successfully launched last February [computing.co.uk].
Here I provided (shameless but informative plug) news on Europe's Galileo, which somehow solved their important funding problems [slashgeo.org]. As for GLONASS, Putin himself clearly stated he wants GLONASS back to full speed [blogspot.com].
Anyone avid of GPS-related news is welcomed here [slashgeo.org] (this is the GPS topic on Slashgeo, yeah, a plug, but hey, it's right on topic no? And there's no ads whatsoever
Justifying defense spending (Score:4, Insightful)
Justifying defense spending is easy. Just line up your favorite talking heads on TV and have them talk about how the people who look different and talk weird really really hate freedom and want to kill all right-thinking peace-loving citizens. Have the talking heads subtly or not-so-subtly question the courage and patriotism of anybody who isn't pissing their pants over the supposedly imminent threat.
Then arrange to borrow the funding for the defense spending. This way, you can put off paying the bills until it's somebody else's problem. With any luck, your political opponent will be in office then, and you can criticize them for the economy that you screwed up. Bonus points if they try to raise taxes to pay off the debts you incurred -- or even just try to end the huge tax cuts you gave to your filthy-rich buddies. (Many of whom just happened to profit enormously from defense contracts and/or own the media corporations who practiced "balanced" journalism by not questioning your lies.)
Wheee! It's a fun game that everyone enjoys
Re:I strongly doubt the quality and reliability (Score:3, Insightful)
"In somewhat upgraded form" our spacecraft are also still flying. In fact, it is such a wonderful all-encompassing expression — "in somewhat upgraded form" — that, pretty much, everything qualifies... But thank you for granting the "technically impressive" bit. One could deduce from that, that US has beaten the Soviets' butt back then at least on something.
And the Soviets knew that, BTW — they would not even deny it. Back when the whole world was glued to their TV-screens watching in awe as the Americans were walking on the Moon, the Soviet TV-viewers were shown some old footage of ballet... This is something your father would not be able to tell you.
You also conveniently skipped our Mars explorers — do ask your father, how those are inferior to a Russian tractor or something and get back to me...
You may need a refresher, on what "straw man" means. You should also look up, what "kicking butt" means too — Russian GLONASS remains vaporware, and yet you refuse to submit, that even in the field of GPS (ubiquitously available for years) America is ahead of the Soviets/Russians.
Right. And when you grow up, you'll really-really kick that guy's ass. But today he is kicking yours...
Re:I strongly doubt the quality and reliability (Score:3, Insightful)
Wait a minute...