Heated Space Race Under Way in Asia

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, the carrier rocket Long March 3-A blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province Saturday, April 14,2007. China successfully launched a navigation satellite aboard Long March 3-A early Saturday, part of the country's "Compass" navigational system, which is expected to provide services such as positioning in transportation, meteorology, petroleum prospecting, forest fire monitoring, disaster forecast, telecommunications and public security, to customers all over China and neighboring countries by 2008. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Li Gang)

(AP) -- Upstart China challenges the United States by blasting a satellite out of orbit. North Korea lobs a missile over Japan, prompting Tokyo to initiate a multibillion dollar spy satellite program. India is readying a lunar mission, while rival Pakistan makes headlines with a new, improved warhead.