JAPAN recently launched its lunar probe in September 2007 and its arch rival CHINA has followed up with its own lunar probe in October 2007. INDIA has planned its Chandrayan - I launch for the first half of 2008. The new space race is really hotting up among the 3 asian giants. With China having surprised the world with its first manned space mission in 2003, Japan and India have also announced their plans for manned missions in the near future. Countries have always associated prestige and national honour with space missions.
