The project is aimed at implementing large-scale space exploration programs, including a manned mission to Mars, interplanetary travel, the creation and operation of planetary outposts. The implementation of this project will allow us to reach a new technological level surpassing foreign developments.

It would only take nine years to fully develop at the tune of $600 million, which is spare change compared to all the economy stimulus plans in place. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev—knowing that this will generate money and specialized jobs, not to mention pushing Russia to a new scientific and engineering level—has backed the project and wants the government to pay for it.

Meanwhile, the Guys With the Right Stuff are seeing their projects scrapped, with Constellation about to get cancelled, and the shuttle getting killed. Godspeed America, godspeed. Let's go to KFC and sink our hope in greasy chicken and cheap beer. [Yahoo via Universe Today]

Commissioned by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, this PPTS would go into duty sometime towards 2020. Instead of having a measly three seats like Soyuz, the standard Earth-orbit PPTS would be able to seat six and carry 500kg of cargo, while a moon-shooting version will seat four, with room for 100kg of cargo—even on the return flight. (So, like, lots of moonrocks. Whoopee!) There would also be an unmanned version that would be able to carry 2000kg of goodness up into orbit. The crew module will be able to be reused 10 times in 15 years.

Today, the Soyuz ship serves as lifeboat for the ISS, but apparently has to be replaced every six months (cuz they fall apart!). The to-be-named PPTS will last a year in orbit, attached to the ISS or, as the BBC ominously puts it, "to a possible future Russian space station."

What, we're not always going to be friends forever who share a nice tidy space station and get along? So they lied to me at the end of Grease? Stay tuned Monday for the big unveiling. [BBC News]

Which is, of course, interestingly ironic since the Abrams M1 typically doesn't use reactive armor, neither does its UK equivalent main battle tank the Challenger 2—they rely on advanced solid armor instead. And you'd need either a very lucky strike, or many impacts to seriously damage one of these beasts with any type of RPG. Russian tanks, like the T72 and T80, on the other hand, do rely on reactive armor and sometimes employ active defense systems like Arena. Would be interesting to see the RPG-30 pitted against the Future Combat System's Quick Kill defenses, don't you think?

Still, makers Bazalt got some military chaps to demonstrate the system recently on TV:[Wired]

Now you should be convinced: if this mod isn't real, that video is a very well-done fake. There's no info on how it's been done, so it's up to you to work out how to follow in their footsteps if you too want a glowing fruit. [iNews76 via Yanko Design]
Update: A reader, and editor of iphones.ru has sent us these photos of the glowing mod in action, in lighted and unlit situations. There's this Giz story showing behind it in the pics... it's real, folks! The mod cost about $300 to do.
Thanks, Arthur!

These monkeys gone to heaven, who are bred at the Sochi Institute only for this purpose, have been used in previous space experiments. Unlike Laika, who died because of the stress of the launch, these monkeys resist the trips and get back in one piece. Like 16-year-old space veteran Krosh, who flew to space in 1992 and—according to the BBC—"is still in rude health." Which we guess means he keeps healthily pooping out and throwing his crap to everyone around.

The macaques will have to be able to sustain a 520-day trip and they are crucial for the survival of the future cosmonauts, as their tolerance to radiation levels is very similar to those in humans. [BBC]

Another analyst, from the Center for Defense Information, says at best its blast is just 50 percent bigger than our MOAB. The list just keeps going: It wasn't dropped from a bomber (as implied in the video, but check the cut when the bay doors open), but probably shoved out the side of a cargo plane, which is almost kind of cute in its quaintness. But regardless of its actual size or power, we still wouldn't want one dropped in our backyard. [Wired]

It's of the same design as the flashbags, which get full when full. Neat, but ultimately unusable because your drive will spend most of its time somewhere inbetween, which takes up unnecessary space. – Jason Chen

Design Page [Plusminus via Dailygadget via Nerd Approved]