Still, if RKK Energia goes entirely toes-up we may see some attempts along those lines. Russia isn’t quite the “prison house of nations” it was in Soviet times. Russia would certainly like to lock down emigration, but has been unable to avoid losing somewhere around 2 million military-age men who have skedaddled to avoid the various forms of conscription now feeding the Ukrainian meatgrinder. It’s easier to keep tabs on the much smaller number of those who are well-educated and possessed of tech savvy, but these are also the folks with the wherewithal to bribe their way out.

Russia’s shrinking manpower cannot all be detailed for brief pre-death service as cannon fodder in Ukraine. Russia has to man its massive internal security apparat and what remains of its dwindling industrial infrastructure. More than a few Russian hardhats are likely weighing their options anent emigration too, given the notably increased likelihood of becoming collateral damage during one of the growing number of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy, transport and military industry. And, of course, even if they avoid getting blown up on the job, many will wind up being idled as plants are knocked out unless they also have applicable repair skills.

A new rocket fuel is being looked at
https://phys.org/news/2025-08-chemists-high-energy-compound-fuel.html

“The newly synthesized compound, manganese diboride (MnB2), is over 20% more energetic by weight and about 150% more energetic by volume compared to the aluminum currently used in solid rocket boosters. Despite being highly energetic, it is also very safe and will only combust when it meets an ignition agent like kerosene.”

On fluid handling in space:
https://phys.org/news/2025-08-tiny-big-impact-fluid-space.html

“Our common sense tells us a barrier should block waves, but here we found certain meniscus shapes can make waves pass through more easily,” Zhang said. “Only a tiny, 1.5-millimeter change in the meniscus shape caused the transmission to drop from about 60% to just a few percent. Tiny meniscus, huge impact.”