Asia follows economic trend for growth, as China launches orbiter

I have included an interesting article that details the launch of a lunar orbiter by China. This is one of many economic indicators for the most rapidly growing nation, and a rising economic power.

Asia's space race heated up on Wednesday as China launched its first lunar orbiter, an event hailed by the world's most populous nation as a milestone event in its global rise.

China's year-long expedition, costing 1.4 billion yuan (184 million dollars), kicks off a programme that aims to land an unmanned rover on the moon's surface by 2012 and put a man on the moon by about 2020.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Asias_space_race_heats_up_as_China_heads_for_moon_999.html