For you space fanbois ... After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian space program put on a "world tour" of their capsules and landers to raise cash. Muse

For you space fanbois ... After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian space program put on a "world tour" of their capsules and landers to raise cash. Museums could pay them to setup a major staffed exhibit. I had a chance to go when it was in SE Asia. I got to: - stick my head inside one of the capsules and see the "gyro globe" - operate their lunar lander via a remote control - learn about their numerous trips to Venus. One of the highlights of my life actually. Also got to see the Red Arrows do a full formation takeoff with 9 planes at high speed around the same time, and went to the Langkawi military air show. After takeoff, they levelled off at 200' and accelerated to about 500 mph. They were a blur against the trees just below them - totally awesome. (In Asia and S. America, jet airshows are still allowed to do low-altitude and supersonic flight over residential areas. Those are banned in Europe and N. America because of numerous previous accidents.)