“Russia tests monkeys for Mars trip”, BBC News, 14/4. Poor monkeys! I thought this sort of experiment belonged in the past; it won’t help Russia’s image. They should find some human volunteers and send them – I’m sure there would be plenty who would volunteer, despite the risks! Also, how do they think the monkeys would cope with the months of confinement? Unlike humans, the monkeys would have no understanding of why they were being enclosed for so long, and would probably be insane when they got back.
“Russia To Create Manned Assembly Complex In Orbit”, Space Daily, 14/4. Will this come true or is it another empty promise, as grumbled about in my 16/4 entry?
“Russia To Build New Space Center In The Far East”, RIAN/Space Daily, 15/4. Andrei Kislyakov opinion piece. The financing for the project seems doubtful as there could be cost overruns.
“In last Soviet outpost, space pioneers cling on”, Space Daily, 15/4. Many people in Baikonur prefer to stay there rather than return to Russia.
