Quote Originally Posted by Dmitry Khomitchuk View Post
UhOhXplode, how did know about Malenkov? Many of Russians do not know about him.
That was one of the easiest questions. Sputnik, the first artificial satellite! I've always been all over space tech and Malenkov was made Chief of the Soviet Missile Program (by Stalin) that led to the Sputnik launch. But he was also in a power struggle with Khrushchev so I read about that too.
Btw, the most important reason I'm learning all about Russia and the language is cause Russia has the most epic space program anywhere! The Soyuz spacecraft have kept the ISS manned from 2002 till now and the new Angara rockets are awesome and can carry even heavier payloads. And now they are building the new Vostochny cosmodrome in Amur Oblast!
Angara (rocket family) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Russia Promises Manned Launches from Its Own Soil in 2018 | Baikonur Cosmodrome & Vostochny | Space.com

Anyway, I think the space program is dying here. They tried to restart it with the Constellation project and Ares rockets but not much happening there. And now this too.
Russian rocket engine export ban could halt US space program — RT News
Well, there's still the Curiosity rover on Mars and the Cassini spacecraft but I wanna be where new stuff is happening. Btw, Cassini will arrive at Titan in only 5 more days!
Cassini Solstice Mission

Btw, I did have a problem with the Catherine the Great question till I remembered what was happening in 1700/1800. I almost got that one wrong.