The Soviet Union did not slacken its effort. Instead, it achieved yet another milestone. In 1961, Soviet military pilot Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel space. On board Vostok 1, Gagarin successfully completed one orbit of Earth in a spaceflight that lasted over an hour. The United States was under growing concerns about the Soviet possessing a weapons program based on its space technology. U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced a proposal of “landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth" before 1970. It was the beginning of a full-blown effort by the United States to develop its space aeronautics. Finally on July 20, 1969, the U.S. became the first country to send a human to the Moon. Astronaut Neil Armstrong flew Apollo 11 and landed on the Moon for the first time in history. It was a much-awaited victory for Americans, and the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States further intensified.

The two rivals began focusing their attention to other planets. Through the ‘Venera(Venus)’ program, the Soviet studied the Venusian atmosphere. Meanwhile, the U.S. landed ‘Viking 1’ and ‘Viking 2’ on Mars, which transmitted photos of the planet to Earth. Americans also successfully built the first-ever Space Shuttle, Columbia. The launch propelled the development of other space shuttles to navigate the universe. The Soviet Union began operating the first manned space station named ‘Mir.’ With the experience and technology gained from the previous space projects, the Soviet launched the first module for Mir in February 1986. The continued success in space exploration by the Soviet amid the tug of war with the U.S. came to a stop as the regime collapsed in 1990 and the country suffered economic losses. Currently Russia is striving to regain its national confidence regarding space exploration. The Russian government has designated the aerospace industry as one of the top national priority tasks, and has developed space tourism. In the U.S., entrepreneurs such as Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Elon Musk of Tesla have started private aerospace companies. Russia is doing it on a national scale. Its plans include sending cosmonauts to the Moon by 2025 as part of its project to build a permanent lunar base.
In surveying the history of Russia, one cannot omit ‘space’ from it. The Museum of Cosmonautics and the Astronautics and Aviation Center in Moscow are full of records showing a national enthusiasm in understanding and exploring space since the Soviet era.

The exterior of this single-story building is quite simplistic. Behind the ticket booth, a Yuri Gagarin statue greets tourists with open arms. Spacedog Laika, which went to space even before Gagarin, is also displayed as a stuffed replica, along with a part of its spacecraft. Unfortunately, Laika did not make it back home. To the left of the entrance, a replica of Vostok 1, the first manned spacecraft, is situated. There are also Strelka and Belka, the two spacedogs that successfully orbited and returned to Earth on board Sputnik 5 in 1960. To the right stands a scale model of Luna 3 space probe which was launched in October 1959 to photograph the far side of the Moon for the first time in history. As you walk into the next exhibition room, you see the photos of famous Russian cosmonauts and a scale model of the space station.

In the museum’s basement, the exhibition space continues. There is an aircraft replica featuring astronauts training for zero gravity on one side. A real-life replica of the Mir space station allows you to get a glimpse of its interior. Photographs of a daily life in space by cosmonauts and a ‘space motorcycle’ used for their commutes in the station as well as a space restroom are available. The smaller replicas of the space station and the Moon are hung from the ceiling, creating a space-like setting.
Interestingly, a corner of the basement exhibition space is used for the history of American space exploration. Records about Apollo 11 which landed on the Moon and national flags of countries involved in space adventure, along with photos of their own astronauts in space, are on display. As the last course in the museum, you can experience a cinema hall screening space-themed films. Videos of astronauts training and engaging in actual space missions are played. The museum souvenir shop sells space food. Then, finally you are back on Earth.

Address The Museum of Cosmonautics, 111 Prospekt Mira, VDNKh Subway Station, Moscow, Russia
Hours 10:00-19:00(Open till 21:00 on Thursdays & Saturdays, Close on Mondays)
Homepage kosmo-museum.ru

There is a room dedicated to projections regarding time and space we have yet to experience. ‘Spaceport of Future’ is located under the pavilion’s dome and the surrounding exhibition spaces. It introduces current and future space projects, and space science prospects. Interestingly, there is also a collection of projections regarding the galactic system by futurists and science fiction writers. The room is equipped with a game simulator offering a virtual experience of space travel and the 5D Sphere cinema giving you a rundown on the human space adventure.

One of the important aspects of the Aeronautics and Aviation Center is its educational mission. Its education section is a vast area surpassing 1,000 square meters in size. It features modern interactive educational exhibits for children and teenagers. Kids aged 4-10 will be taught at the Children’s Education Center while those aged 11-16 at the Adolescent Education Center. Visitors can learn about the history and development of space rockets, aviation and defense industries of Russia. A visit to the center will surely inspire children and teenagers to dream of exploring space just like their ancestors who pioneered the universe before any other nation in the world.

Address Cosmos Pavilion No. 34, VDNH, Prospect Mira, Estate 119, Moscow
Hours 11:00-15:00 (Closed on Mondays)
Homepage cosmos.vdnh.ru