Hazard's stuff

Hereе║is a webpage regarding NASA's project to study possibility to use Linux for spaceflight applications. Quite interesting, since some of the reportsе║(circa 2002)е║mentionе║ that a few teams had already chosen Linux as the on-board OS. I'm wondering what is currentе║the status. Also reports contain other interesting stuff, such as what CPUs were used for various NASA projects in the past.

BISER-6 is apparently the newest digital computer subsystem which is used for Russian spacecraft (Proton-M, Angara, TSYKLON-3). It is based on subsystem developed for Zenit rockets and Fregat boosterе║during 1980s. 32-bit architecture compatible with ц╔цЁ ц╪ц╥ц╜ (clone of IBM mainframes), 8 Mhz clock. This isn't so bad, currently the most popular western CPU for space applications is RAD6000 CPU, which runs up to 20 Mhz. Where BISER-6 really lacks is the amount of RAM: 224 Kb compared to 128 MB on RAD6000SC.

"ц║ц█ц┘ц▓ц┴ц▀ц│ц▌ц┐ц≥,- ц░ц▓ц▐ц┐ц┴ц■ц┴ц▓ц▐ц≈ц│ц▄ ц▐ц▌ ц┴ц  ц░ц┴ц⌠ц≤ц█ц│ ц√ц┘ц▌ц≥ ц≈ "ц╝ц≤ц─-ц╙ц▐ц▓ц▀ ц■ц│ц┼ц█ц⌠",- ц┌ц┘ц  ц▀ц▐ц▌ц┐ц│ ц┴ц²ц∙ц■ ц▄ц─ц┌ц≈ц┴ ц▀ ц⌠ц┘ц┌ц┘ ц≈ ц■ц│ц▀ц┴ц┬ ц█ц┘ц⌠ц■ц│ц┬, ц┤ц└ц┘ ц┘ц┘ ц┌ц≥ц■ц≤ ц▌ц┘ ц█ц▐ц√ц┘ц■, ц┴ ц≈ ц■ц│ц▀ц┴ц┬ ц├ц▐ц▓ц█ц│ц┬, ц▀ц│ц▀ц┴ц┘ ц▐ц▌ц│ ц▌ц┴ц▀ц▐ц┤ц└ц│ ц▌ц┘ ц█ц▐ц√ц┘ц■ ц░ц▓ц┴ц▌ц▒ц■ц≤."

-е║ц┴ц е║ц▓ц▐ц█ц│ц▌ц│е║"ц╚ц▐ц▄ц≥ц┌ц┘ц▄ц≤ ц└ц▄ц▒ ц▀ц▐ц⌡ц▀ц┴". ц╚ц∙ц▓ц■ ц╥ц▐ц▌ц▌ц┘ц┤ц∙ц■,е║1963 ц┤.

ц╥ц≥ц└ц┘ц▓ц√ц▀ц│ ц┴ц  ц┴ц▌ц⌠ц■ц▓ц∙ц▀ц┐ц┴ц┴ ц░ц▐ ц░ц▓ц┴ц█ц┘ц▌ц┘ц▌ц┴ц─ ц▀ ц█ц│ц ц┴ "ц╒ц╘ц╞ц╟ц╘ц╝":

"... ц╜ц│ц ц≤ ц≈ц≥ц ц≥ц≈ц│ц┘ц■ ц┴ц▌ц┤ц┴ц┌ц┴ц▓ц∙ц─ц²ц┘ц┘ ц└ц┘ц┼ц⌠ц■ц≈ц┴ц┘ ц▌ц│ ц∙ц▓ц▐ц≈ц┘ц▌ц≤ ц░ц┘ц▓ц≈ц┴ц·ц▌ц≥ц┬ ц░ц▓ц▐ц└ц∙ц▀ц■ц▐ц≈ ц░ц┘ц▓ц┴ц▀ц┴ц⌠ц▌ц▐ц┤ц▐ ц▐ц▀ц┴ц⌠ц▄ц┘ц▌ц┴ц▒ ц▄ц┴ц░ц┴ц└ц▐ц≈ ц└ц┴ц┘ц▌ц▐ц≈ц≥ц┬ ц▀ц▐ц▌ц÷ц─ц┤ц│ц▌ц■ц▐ц≈ ц┴ ц█ц│ц▄ц▐ц▌ц▐ц≈ц▐ц┤ц▐ ц└ц┴ц│ц▄ц≤ц└ц┘ц┤ц┴ц└ц│. ц╟ц▐ц└ ц└ц┘ц┼ц⌠ц■ц≈ц┴ц┘ц█ ц█ц│ц ц┴ ц∙ц≈ц┘ц▄ц┴ц·ц┴ц≈ц│ц┘ц■ц⌠ц▒ ц├ц│ц┤ц▐ц┐ц┴ц■ц│ц▓ц▌ц≥ц┼ ц┴ц▌ц└ц┘ц▀ц⌠, ц≈ц▐ц ц▓ц│ц⌠ц■ц│ц─ц■ ц░ц▐ц▀ц│ц ц│ц■ц┘ц▄ц┴ ц├ц│ц┤ц▐ц┐ц┴ц■ц│ц▓ц▌ц▐ц┤ц▐ ц·ц┴ц⌠ц▄ц│, ц┬ц│ц▓ц│ц▀ц■ц┘ц▓ц┴ц ц∙ц─ц²ц┘ц┤ц▐ ц▀ц▐ц▄ц┴ц·ц┘ц⌠ц■ц≈ц▐ ц├ц│ц┤ц▐ц┐ц┴ц■ц┴ц▓ц▐ц≈ц│ц▌ц▌ц≥ц┬ ц▀ц▄ц┘ц■ц▐ц▀ ц▌ц│ ц▐ц└ц┴ц▌ ц▄ц┘ц┼ц▀ц▐ц┐ц┴ц■. ц╟ц▓ц┘ц░ц│ц▓ц│ц■ ц∙ц⌠ц┴ц▄ц┴ц≈ц│ц┘ц■ ц├ц∙ц▌ц▀ц┐ц┴ц▐ц▌ц│ц▄ц≤ц▌ц∙ц─ ц│ц▀ц■ц┴ц≈ц▌ц▐ц⌠ц■ц≤ ц▌ц┘ц┼ц■ц▓ц▐ц├ц┴ц▄ц≤ц▌ц≥ц┬ ц▄ц┘ц┼ц▀ц▐ц┐ц┴ц■ц▐ц≈ ц▀ц▓ц▐ц≈ц┴ ц·ц┘ц▄ц▐ц≈ц┘ц▀ц│ ц┴ ц∙ц≈ц┘ц▄ц┴ц·ц┴ц≈ц│ц┘ц■ ц░ц▓ц▐ц└ц∙ц▀ц┐ц┴ц─ ц├ц│ц▀ц■ц▐ц▓ц│ ц▌ц┘ц▀ц▓ц▐ц ц│ ц▐ц░ц∙ц┬ц▐ц▄ц┘ц┼.

...

ц╕ц▐ц▓ц█ц│ ц≈ц≥ц░ц⌠ц▀ц│:

- ц≈ ц┌ц│ц▌ц▀ц│ц┬ ц┴ц  ц⌠ц■ц┘ц▀ц▄ц▐ц█ц│ц⌠ц⌠ц≥ - ц░ц▐ 30, 40 ц┴ 50 ц┤.

- ц≈ ц┌ц│ц▌ц▀ц│ц┬ ц┴ц  ц░ц▐ц▄ц┴ц░ц▓ц▐ц░ц┴ц▄ц┘ц▌ц│ - ц░ц▐ 40 ц┤.

- ц≈ ц■ц∙ц┌ц│ц┬ ц│ц▄ц─ц█ц┴ц▌ц┴ц┘ц≈ц≥ц┬ - ц░ц▐ 40, 50 ц┴ 100 ц┤."

ц╥ц▐ц■ ц°ц■ц▐ ц▒ ц░ц▐ц▌ц┴ц█ц│ц─ - ц└ц▐ц⌠ц■ц∙ц░ц▌ц▐ ц┴ ц░ц▐ц▌ц▒ц■ц▌ц▐ ц▀ц│ц√ц└ц▐ц█ц∙. :-)

Here is a page with brief description of Control Data 6600, one of the fastest time-sharing computers of the time. You should visit this page just to look at the last photograph... my jaw almost dropped on the floor when I saw that one.

ц╒ц▄ц▐ц┤ц∙ ц▐ц└ц┴ц▌ ц█ц┘ц⌠ц▒ц┐ :)

www.worldavia.ru features photographs from various Russian aircraft, both military and civilian. Interesting stuff.

Having nothing else to do, I have decided to start watching my movie collection. Ninth gate is one of my favourites. Mysterious, dark and classy, set in beautiful sceneries around Europe. Direction, camera work and Johnny Depp's performance are top notch. I give it 9 out of 10. Unfortunately comments on IMDB show that most people do not understand it.
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I caught cold, got sick and now spend most of the time in bed. It sucks.

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Introducing the ROFL-3000 :)

ц╖ц└ц┘-ц■ц▐ ц░ц▐ц▄-ц·ц│ц⌠ц│ ц▌ц│ц ц│ц└ ц┌ц≥ц▄ц▐ ц ц┘ц█ц▄ц┘ц■ц▓ц▒ц⌠ц┘ц▌ц┴ц┘. ц╓ц▄ц┴ц▄ц▐ц⌠ц≤ ц⌠ц┘ц▀ц∙ц▌ц└ 30, ц└ц▐ц⌠ц■ц│ц■ц▐ц·ц▌ц▐ ц└ц▐ц▄ц┤ц▐, ц·ц■ц▐ц┌ц≥ ц▒ ц▓ц┘ц⌡ц┴ц▄ ц▀ц∙ц└ц│-ц▌ц┴ц┌ц∙ц└ц≤ ц⌠ц█ц≥ц■ц≤ц⌠ц▒ ц┴ц  ц└ц▐ц█ц│ ц░ц▐ц⌠ц▄ц┘ ц■ц▐ц┤ц▐, ц▀ц│ц▀ ц▐ц▌ц▐ ц ц│ц▀ц▐ц▌ц·ц┴ц▄ц▐ц⌠ц≤. :)

Soyuz TMA-5 has successfully docked with ISS. The docking was done in manual mode, as autopilot had turned off due to higher velocity than expected. It is not clear what caused it yet. (More)

Here is a interview with the first person to have seen Buran when it returned to Earth after its first flight - Mig-25 reconaissance laboratory pilot Mahomed Talboev. The Buran computer was flying like a first class pilot and actually Talboev had to use his "air fight" skills in order to "catch" it. Cool stuff.

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New propulsion concept could make 90-day Mars round trip possible.
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ESA has published world air pollution map (details here). China stands out from all the rest...

Soyuz TMA-5 has been successfully launched, and is enroute to the ISS. Video of the launch can be found here, fast forward to actual action which starts around 17:00. It is the first time I saw that the cosmonauts use "pointy stick" to press buttons on the control the computer. :)
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Here is an interesting article describing evolution of control/interface systems of Soyuz. (More)

Introducing Soyuz On-Board Control Computer: 2x2 KB RAM; 3x16 KB ROM. Everything a rocket scientist would dream about. :) (More)

I found an interesting document with comparison of price per kg to orbit for various space vehicles, including Russian and Chinese ones. (More)

I have placed some videos of the only Buran launch and landing here. Also some nice photographs can be found on buran.ru. Unlike Shuttle, Buran was fully automated - in fact its only flight was done without any crew on-board. You can find Buran vs Shuttle comparison here. It is said to see all this multi-billion $ effort wasted.

UPDATE: For those who may ask why don't we resurrect Buran project, here is a post which explains why it is impossible.
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A painting of Bush named "Man of Leisure, King George" was removed from display at Washington museum. (More)

I finally found a website which features a few nice satellite photographs of our beloved island.
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I think I will have an explanation if Bush wins next time :)

"This is a project visualizing the world map which many fools in the world imagine."

ц╚ц│ц▀ ц⌠ц▐ц▐ц┌ц²ц│ц┘ц■ vesti.ru, 'цЁц░ц┘ц┐ц┴ц│ц▄ц┴ц⌠ц■ц≥ ц▌ц│ц ц≥ц≈ц│ц─ц■ "цЁц▐ц─ц -2" ц┌ц∙ц└ц∙ц²ц┴ц█ ц▀ц▐ц⌠ц█ц▐ц▌ц│ц≈ц■ц┴ц▀ц┴ - ц▐ц▌ ц⌠ц░ц▐ц⌠ц▐ц┌ц┘ц▌ ц░ц▐ц└ц▌ц┴ц█ц│ц■ц≤ ц┤ц▓ц∙ц ц≥ ц┤ц▐ц▓ц│ц ц└ц▐ ц┌ц▐ц▄ц≤ц⌡ц┘ц┼ ц█ц│ц⌠ц⌠ц≥ ц┴ ц▐ц┌ц÷ц┘ц█ц│, ц·ц┘ц█ ц┘ц┤ц▐ ц░ц▓ц┘ц└ц⌡ц┘ц⌠ц■ц≈ц┘ц▌ц▌ц┴ц▀ц┴.'. ц╝ц∙ ц·ц■ц▐-ц√, ц░ц▐ц⌠ц█ц▐ц■ц▓ц┴ц█ ц▌ц│ ц┤ц▓ц∙ц ц▐ц░ц▐ц└ц÷ц┘ц█ц▌ц▐ц⌠ц■ц≤ ц▌ц│ ц⌠ц│ц┼ц■ц┘ ц░ц▓ц▐ц┴ц ц≈ц▐ц└ц┴ц■ц┘ц▄ц▒, www.samspace.ru. ц╢ц┘ц▀ц∙ц²ц┴ц┼ цЁц▐ц─ц -ц╕ц╖: 7130е║ ц▀ц┤. ц╝ц▐ц≈ц≥ц┼ цЁц▐ц─ц -2-1ц│: 7020 ц▀ц┤. цЁц∙ц└ц┴ц■ц┘ ц⌠ц│ц█ц┴.

ц║ц▄ц≤ц┌ц▐ц█ Finntroll'ц│ "Visor Om Slutet" ц▐ц■ц▄ц┴ц·ц│ц┘ц■ц⌠ц▒ ц▐ц■ ц≈ц⌠ц┘ц┬ ц└ц▓ц∙ц┤ц┴ц┬. ц╢ц┘ц█, ц·ц■ц▐ black metal'ц│ ц≈ ц▌ц┘ц█ ц▌ц┘ц■. цЁц▀ц▐ц▓ц┘ц┘ ц°ц■ц▐ ambient ц▌ц│ ц▐ц⌠ц▌ц▐ц≈ц┘ ц▌ц│ц┐ц┴ц▐ц▌ц│ц▄ц≤ц▌ц▐ц┤ц▐ ц├ц┴ц▌ц⌠ц▀ц▐ц┤ц▐ ц├ц▐ц▄ц▀ц▄ц┘ц▓ц│. цЁц│ц█ц┴ Finntroll'ц▐ц≈ц┐ц≥ ц┘ц┤ц▐ ц▌ц│ц ц≥ц≈ц│ц─ц■ "ц│ц▀ц∙ц⌠ц■ц┴ц·ц┘ц⌠ц▀ц┴-ц°ц▀ц⌠ц░ц┘ц▓ц┴ц█ц┘ц▌ц■ц│ц▄ц≤ц▌ц≥ц█". ц╝ц∙ ц·ц■ц▐-ц√, ц°ц▀ц⌠ц░ц┘ц▓ц┴ц█ц┘ц▌ц■ ц░ц▐ц▄ц∙ц·ц┴ц▄ц⌠ц▒ ц▌ц│ ц⌠ц▄ц│ц≈ц∙. :) ц╜ц▐ц▒ ц▐ц┐ц┘ц▌ц▀ц│ - 9 ц┴ц  10.

ц╜ц┘ц▌ц▒ ц≈ц⌠ц┘ц┤ц└ц│ ц░ц▐ц·ц┘ц█ц∙-ц■ц▐ ц░ц▓ц┴ц≈ц▄ц┘ц▀ц│ц▄ц┴ ц▐ц■ц└ц│ц▄ц┘ц▌ц▌ц≥ц┘ ц▐ц⌠ц■ц▓ц▐ц≈ц│ ц⌠ ц▌ц┘ц┌ц▐ц▄ц≤ц⌡ц┴ц█ ц▀ц▐ц▄ц┴ц·ц┘ц⌠ц■ц≈ц▐ц█ ц▌ц│ц⌠ц┘ц▄ц┘ц▌ц┴ц▒. ц╖ц▓ц┘ц▌ц▄ц│ц▌ц└ц┴ц▒ ц⌠ц▐ц▐ц■ц≈ц┘ц■ц⌠ц■ц≈ц∙ц┘ц■ ц▐ц┌ц▐ц┴ц█ ц┬ц│ц▓ц│ц▀ц■ц┘ц▓ц┴ц⌠ц■ц┴ц▀ц│ц█. ц╘ ц┤ц└ц┘ ц┘ц²ц┘ ц≈ ц▓ц┘ц⌠ц■ц▐ц▓ц│ц▌ц│ц┬ ц░ц▐ц└ц│ц─ц■ ц■ц─ц▄ц┘ц▌ц┘ц┼ ц┴ ц▀ц┴ц■ц▐ц≈? ц╟ц▓ц│ц≈ц└ц│ ц■ц│ц█ ц┬ц▐ц▄ц▐ц└ц▌ц▐. ц╨ц│ц■ц▐ ц▓ц▐ц▀-ц├ц┘ц⌠ц■ц┴ц≈ц│ц▄ц≤ ц┘ц⌠ц■ц≤, ц▌ц│ ц▌ц┘ц█ ц█ц▐ц√ц▌ц▐ ц⌠ц▐ц┤ц▓ц┘ц■ц≤ц⌠ц▒ :). ц╔ц⌠ц■ц≤ ц┴ Webcam ц⌠ ц≈ц┴ц└ц▐ц█ ц▌ц│ ц⌠ц■ц▐ц▄ц┴ц┐ц∙ ц╖ц▓ц┘ц▌ц▄ц│ц▌ц└ц┴ц┴ - Nuuk.
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Despite very scarce information regarding Troodos 2004, together with Leonid we managed to attend and see last stage of it today - Monagrouli. I'm sure Leonid will post photos and further info about it on his blog very soon. Although nowhere near WRC, it is still refreshing to see something new. :)
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ц╟ц▓ц┴ ц░ц▐ц░ц≥ц■ц▀ц┘ ц ц│ц┬ц▐ц└ц│ ц▌ц│ ц⌠ц■ц▓ц│ц▌ц┴ц┐ц∙ "ц╓ц│ц▌ц▌ц≥ц┘ ц┴ц  ц┐ц┘ц▌ц■ц▓ц│ ц∙ц░ц▓ц│ц≈ц▄ц┘ц▌ц┴ц▒ ц░ц▐ц▄ц┘ц■ц│ц█ц┴" ц▌ц│ www.federalspace.ru ц░ц▐ц▄ц∙ц·ц│ц┘ц█ ц⌠ц▄ц┘ц└ц∙ц─ц²ц┘ц┘. :)

ц╟ц▐ц▄ц∙ц·ц┴ц▄ ц▌ц▐ц≈ц≥ц┼ ц│ц▄ц≤ц┌ц▐ц█ ц≈ц⌠ц┘ц█ц┴ ц▄ц─ц┌ц┴ц█ц≥ц┬ ц░ц│ц▓ц▌ц┘ц┼ ц┴ц  ц╖ц┘ц▓ц█ц│ц▌ц┴ц┴. ц╞ц▀ц│ц ц│ц▄ц▐ц⌠ц≤ ц▌ц┘ ц▌ц│ц⌠ц■ц▐ц▄ц≤ц▀ц▐ ц░ц▄ц▐ц┬ц▐, ц▌ц│ц⌠ц▀ц▐ц▄ц≤ц▀ц▐ ц▒ ц▐ц░ц│ц⌠ц│ц▄ц⌠ц▒. ц╝ц▐ ц┴ ц└ц│ц▄ц┘ц▀ц▐ ц▌ц┘ ц▌ц│ц⌠ц■ц▐ц▄ц≤ц▀ц▐ ц┬ц▐ц▓ц▐ц⌡ц▐, ц▌ц│ ц·ц■ц▐ ц█ц▐ц√ц▌ц▐ ц┌ц≥ц▄ц▐ ц▌ц│ц└ц┘ц▒ц■ц≤ц⌠ц▒. ц╨ц│ц█ц┘ц■ц┘ц▌ ц▓ц▐ц⌠ц■ ц░ц▓ц▐ц├ц┘ц⌠ц⌠ц┴ц▐ц▌ц│ц▄ц┴ц ц█ц│, ц░ц▓ц│ц≈ц└ц│ ц░ц▓ц▐ц├ц┘ц⌠ц⌠ц┴ц▐ц▌ц│ц▄ц┴ц ц█ ц▐ц▀ц│ц ц│ц▄ц⌠ц▒ ц▐ц┌ц▓ц│ц■ц▌ц▐ ц░ц▓ц▐ц░ц▐ц▓ц┐ц┴ц▐ц▌ц│ц▄ц┘ц▌ ц└ц▓ц│ц┼ц≈ц∙. "ц╓ц≈ц∙ц█ц┘ц▓ц▌ц▐ц┤ц▐" ц ц≈ц∙ц▀ц│ ц▓ц│ц▌ц▌ц┘ц┤ц▐ Rammstein'ц│ ц░ц▓ц│ц▀ц■ц┴ц·ц┘ц⌠ц▀ц┴ ц▌ц┘ ц▐ц⌠ц■ц│ц▄ц▐ц⌠ц≤.

ц╚ц▐ц█ц░ц▐ц ц┴ц┐ц┴ц▒ "Moskau" ц≈ц▌ц│ц·ц│ц▄ц┘ ц≈ц≥ц ц≥ц≈ц│ц┘ц■ ц░ц│ц■ц▓ц┴ц▐ц■ц┴ц·ц┘ц⌠ц▀ц┴-ц∙ц█ц┴ц▄ц┴ц■ц┘ц▄ц≤ц▌ц≥ц┘ ц·ц∙ц≈ц⌠ц■ц≈ц│, ц▀ц▐ц■ц▐ц▓ц≥ц┘ ц░ц▐ц■ц▐ц█ ц┌ц≥ц⌠ц■ц▓ц▐ ц░ц┘ц▓ц┘ц┬ц▐ц└ц▒ц■ ц≈ ц▐ц■ц▓ц┴ц┐ц│ц■ц┘ц▄ц≤ц▌ц∙ц─ ц░ц▄ц▐ц⌠ц▀ц▐ц⌠ц■ц≤. ц╗ц▐ц■ц▒ ц░ц▐ц√ц│ц▄ц∙ц┼ ц°ц■ц▐ ц▐ц└ц▌ц│ ц┴ц  ц■ц▓ц┘ц┬ ц░ц┘ц⌠ц┘ц▌ ц≈ ц│ц▄ц≤ц┌ц▐ц█ц┘, ц▀ц▐ц■ц▐ц▓ц≥ц┘ ц▒ ц┌ц∙ц└ц∙ ц⌠ц▄ц∙ц⌡ц│ц■ц≤ ц≈ ц┌ц∙ц└ц∙ц²ц┘ц█.

ц╥ ц▐ц┌ц²ц┘ц█, ц▐ц┐ц┘ц▌ц▀ц│ 5.5 ц┴ц  10.
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A nice video of Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne flight which happened a few days ago can be found here. (More)

ц╚ц┴ц▌-ц└ц ц│-ц└ц ц│ + ц╢ц┘ц▓ц█ц┴ц▌ц│ц■ц▐ц▓ 2 = ц╚ц┴ц▌ц└ц ц│ц└ц ц│ц■ц▐ц▓ - 2. ц╚ц▐ц▄ц▄ц┘ц▀ц┐ц┴ц▒ ц≈ц⌠ц▒ц▀ц┴ц┬ FAQц▐ц≈, ц⌠ц▀ц┴ц▌ц▐ц≈ ц┴ ц■.ц░.