[Azred]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: 5) Why not?! It's a free world. There is no reason that the US should have a monopoly in space. China have decided to send random rockets into space and that is entirely up to them but a bit pointless in my opinion. The Europeans are sending up a system which will be of benefit to the whole of the world for many years to come. I can't think of a better way to usher in a greater European role in space.

I agree completely. A 1-m resoultion would have so many benefits that I don't have space in which to list them all at this time. One area of research upon which I will touch is archaeology--this kind of resolution, if combined with a far-infrared wavelength, could find ancient sites without disturbing the ground, narrowing and speeding up digs.

Anyway, I wouldn't want a monopoly in space even if someone wanted to hand it to us. I know our country, and too many people would say "why are we bothering putting up more weather satellites?" They wouldn't understand.