Friday, November 5, 2010

Ugandan leader wants flight to the moon

JODY CLARKE - AFRICANS MUST put a satellite into space and go to the moon to find out what the Americans are doing there, the Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, has said. ...

“We need to put a satellite in space so that we find out what those Americans are doing there,” he said during the launch of the ruling National Resistance Movement’s 2011-2016 manifesto.

“With the EAC federation, we can have bargaining power and be able to go to the moon.”

His statement has echoes of a failed space programme in Zambia from the 1960s. Edward Nkoloso, a science teacher, failed mayoral candidate for Lusaka and former independence activist, established what he called the Zambian Academy of Science and Space Research.

In an editorial to a Zambian newspaper, he described launching a teenage girl, two cats and a missionary to Mars. However, he said the missionary had been warned not to convert Martians to Christianity if they did not want it.

He applied to Unesco for $7 million (€4.9 million) in funding, but it was never granted.

Last year, the Congolese authorities tried to launch a rat 36km into space. However, the rocket misfired and travelled in the wrong direction.

via Ugandan leader wants flight to the moon - The Irish Times - Fri, Nov 05, 2010.

4 comments:

Cole said...

Gee, I'm just thinking out loud here, but shouldn't developing countries worry about the well-being of their own people before going for something as big and presently impractical as going to space?

Patrick said...

"Hahaha. Those silly Africans. See how far below us they are in knowledge and basic common sense."

Just illuminating the subtext of this article in case no one got it.

Our word for the day: "Paternalism."

Xeno said...

Yes, I had that same thought about the tone of the article. Perhaps the taunting will help them find a way to do this and also benefit African people with more earthly needs. Conversely, we could likewise use some ribbing from Ethiopia and Kenya about how fat and slow moving we are. ;-)

Therefore, a toast, to the African space program. May they reach the moon and find out what I am doing up there.

arjay001 said...

Shouldn't the sentance read:

"However, he said the missionary had been warned not to burn Martians at the stake if they did not want to convert to Christianity."

Love this post it is so funny and open to jokes.

"Last year, the Congolese authorities tried to launch a rat 36km into space. However, the rocket misfired and travelled in the wrong direction."

What direction would that be?

They should know the USA will not let anyone get within 200,000 miles of the secret moon base.