Cirque du Soleil founder, Guy Laliberte, became the 7th space tourist to be launched into space aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket. As the US Space Shuttle nears the end of its working life, the Russian Soyuz rockets will be working overtime, that means Guy Laliberte may be one of the last space tourists for a while. Here are photos and video from NASA as well as an RT report from the launch.

Expedition 21 Soyuz Launch

Soyuz rocket launches into space LIVE on RT

The Soyuz TMA-16 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, carrying Expedition 21 Flight Engineer Jeffrey N. Williams, Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev and Spaceflight Participant Guy Laliberté to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

The Soyuz rocket is seen shortly after arrival to the launch pad Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Russian security officers walk along the railroad tracks as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out to the launch pad Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz rocket is rolled out to the launch pad Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Links:
Ottawa Citizen photo gallery from the launch.

The controversial Okhta Center has received approval from the St. Petersburg government to start construction. St. Petersburg governor, Valentina Matviyenko, signed a document allowing for an exemption to the long-standing rule that limits buildings in the St. Petersburg center to a height of 100 meters. The building, when completed, will be the tallest in Europe. Plans call for the tower to be finished in 2013.

Links:
Okhta Center official site
BBC: Architects reach for Russian sky
Inhabitant: Gazprom Tower Gets Green Light and Will Be Tallest Building in Europe
Wikipedia entry on the Okhta Tower

Every summer, the fluff from poplar trees floats around Moscow and other Russian cities, often covering the ground and giving the appearance of a recent snowfall. But where did all these poplar trees come from, and who is to blame? RT gives an interesting and entertaining insight into these pesky poplars in this report.

YouTube – Pesky poplar

The Russian cartoon series “Smeshariki” is a huge success inside Russia, and now it has gone global.  Here is more information from Russia Today.

Watch on YouTube

Today marks the 63rd anniversary of the victory over Germany in World War II. In Russia, the war is known as the Great Patriotic War, and May 9th is still one of the biggest holidays of the year. Russia today has English language coverage of this morning’s Victory Day parade on Red Square. Watch the full video with English commentary and read about the event on the Russia Today website.

Military parade on Red Square – full version (68 min)

Update: Russia Today has posted a lot of great video covering this year’s Victory Day and the history of the Great Patriotic War. Here are some highlights.
History of Great Patriotic War

Russia celebrates WW2 victory

U.S. uncertain about WW2 history
A Victory Day report from America with a Russian perspective.