Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The country's main exhibition invites children and adults to educational tours dedicated to the history of our country's space achievements. They will be held from March 19th to 25th at the Cosmonautics and Aviation Center (Pavilion No. 34). Guests will learn about how animals were sent into space and how equipment was prepared for flights. Participants will also learn about cosmonaut training and the challenges they faced in orbit. The research conducted by the crews during the expeditions will also be discussed. Visitors will also be presented with unique exhibits and rare video footage. The tours are free; advance registration is required.
Those interested in learning about the life and exploits of legendary cosmonaut Alexei Leonov are invited to the Cosmonautics and Aviation Center on March 19. A tour entitled "Time of Pioneers: Alexei Leonov – Alone with the Universe" will be held at 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM. It is dedicated to the 61st anniversary of the historic flight that led to the first human spacewalk. Participants will see the legendary Berkut spacesuit, which Alexei Leonov wore while outside the ship for 12 minutes and nine seconds on March 18, 1965. The return to the ship was not smooth: a pressure drop caused the cosmonaut's suit to inflate, putting him in grave danger. Tour guides will explain how Leonov overcame the problem.
Upon landing, the Voskhod-2 crew faced another challenge: the automatic control system failed. Commander Pavel Belyaev was forced to pilot the ship manually. As a result, the cosmonauts found themselves in the remote taiga, from where they were evacuated only two days later. Visitors will also hear about Alexei Leonov's other projects, such as his preparations for the lunar mission and his second space flight as commander of Soyuz-19, during which the Soviet and American spacecraft docked. Tour participants will also see personal belongings, documents, and paintings of the legendary cosmonaut. Registration is available atlink.
A tour, "From Launch to Landing," is scheduled for Sunday, March 22. Guests will learn about the history of the Soyuz TM-20 spacecraft's flight to the Mir orbital station. It launched on October 3, 1994, and landed on March 22, 1995. Exactly 31 years ago, cosmonauts Alexander Viktorenko (spacecraft commander), Elena Kondakova (flight engineer), and Valery Polyakov (physician-cosmonaut) returned to Earth.
At the beginning of the expedition, the crew faced a number of unexpected situations. Tour participants will learn how the cosmonauts overcame these challenges and the medical experiments they conducted during the flight. They will also learn about the records that made this long-duration space mission history. For example, Valery Polyakov spent 437 days, 17 hours, and 31 seconds in space (he began his flight on Soyuz TM-18 on January 8, 1994, and completed it on Soyuz TM-20). His achievement has yet to be surpassed—the record has stood for over 30 years. Elena Kondakova, meanwhile, set a record for the longest time spent in space by a woman: 169 days, 5 hours, and 35 seconds. For their achievements, the cosmonauts were awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.
During the tour, visitors will see a full-scale model of the Mir orbital station, the Sokol spacesuits worn by cosmonauts on spacewalks, and other exhibits. The tour begins at 7:30 PM. Those wishing to participate must: register.
The next excursion will be dedicated to the spaceflight of a little dog named Zvezdochka and other four-legged friends. It's called "I am Earth! I am seeing my pets off!" and will take place on March 25 at 7:30 PM. It was on this day, 65 years ago, that the Vostok spacecraft was launched. On board were the dog Zvezdochka and a mannequin, nicknamed Ivan Ivanovich. The flight lasted about two hours—one orbit around the Earth. The spacecraft then made a successful landing in the Perm region. Zvezdochka was found and sent to Moscow. She became a true celebrity and lived a long life. Nineteen days after her return, Yuri Gagarin took off.
The very first living creature launched into Earth orbit was a dog named Laika. She completed four orbits of the planet aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957. Unfortunately, the mongrel did not return to Earth. However, her flight demonstrated that a living creature can survive launch and survive weightlessness. You can learn about other dogs who have been to space and the role they played in its exploration during the tour. Participants will also be presented with unique exhibits, such as the original Vostok descent module and a dog carrier—a special pressurized seat in which the animals were launched into orbit. Guests will also see rare video footage of animals preparing for flights. The tour requires register.
The Cosmonautics and Aviation Center is one of the key facilities of the VDNKh museum cluster. This large-scale exhibition is housed in one of the most famous architectural landmarks of the country's premier exhibition center—historical pavilion No. 34, "Space." It is dedicated to the history of Russian cosmonautics and aviation—outstanding achievements of which Russia has always been proud.
Today, VDNKh is one of the capital's main attractions. It is a major international exhibition center, a museum city, and a modern venue for education and recreation for residents and tourists. It hosts numerous important cultural, scientific, and economic events, attended by tens of thousands of people. The exhibition grounds cover more than 325 hectares.
Holding events for VDNKh guests is in line with the objectives of the national project Tourism and Hospitality and is a key part of the VDNKh development strategy until 2030. More information about national projects and the capital's contribution can be found atspecial page.
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