The Museum of Cosmonautics at VDNKh: photo, mode of operation

VDNH contains a number of pavilions dedicated to individual achievements in Russian science, industry, and technology. The cosmonautics industry is inextricably linked with the launch of an artificial satellite and the first flights to the star sky, which our country is also proud of. Therefore it is quite understandable why the Cosmonautics Museum at VDNKh has acquired the significance of the largest institution of our country and the world.

Saving history

A rich past traditionally links the successive events of how a person has historically approached the cosmos. In 1967 the museum was founded, and for the first time it opened its doors in 1981. The giant titanium rocket at the entrance symbolizes a qualitative technological breakthrough. What is famous for the Cosmonautics Museum in Moscow?

VDNH collected the achievements of Russian cosmonautics. Anyone wishing to touch history will be able to see firsthand the satellites and apparatus used in studying the solar system, as well as samples of space technology. Fans of archival materials will be offered personal items, faleristics items, graphics collections and much more.

The scope of the preserved heritage

The location of the museum is in harmony with the monument to the Conquerors of Space. It is a unique metropolitan monument. The idea for the creation of the Museum refers us to the scientist-designer Sergey Korolev, and his discovery is accustomed to the 20th anniversary of the legendary flight of Yuri Gagarin.

The Cosmonautics Museum at VDNKh (photo attached) has a huge territory. Its area is more than 8.5 thousand square meters. Almost half of them are reserved for main expositions.

Since 2006, a three-year reconstruction began. The main result was an increase in the exhibition space. The museum includes eight exhibition halls and even a cinema hall, in which documentaries are shown.

The main components

At the same time, the exposition was renewed, which has significantly expanded. Today the visitor of the museum will see all the wealth of rocket and space technology. In the number of interactive exhibits were added various virtual simulators of the space station, docking and rapprochement, including a simulator, behind which you can feel yourself a pilot of a search helicopter. In the structure of the organization there is an archive and a scientific library. The average number of visitors exceeds 300 thousand people a year.

The Cosmonautics Museum at VDNKh has a mock-up version of the Mir station, the main feature of which is its full-scale scale. On the "World" is allowed to enter all comers. Nearby is the Flight Center, where you can watch the space station in real time. In the lobby there is an opportunity to purchase "space food" in tubes, which, of course, will create the right mood for the upcoming excursion.

State-public programs

The museum often takes part in various reviews and forums. So, in June the International Festival of Museums was held. Thousands of space enthusiasts, including industry scientists, come from all over the world. "Intermuseum-2015" was held in the subject of training sessions. The purpose of the educational program is to involve schools and other educational institutions in interaction with the museum. The emphasis is on the formation of interest in space among students and others.

Also in June there was a special exhibition timed to the 60th anniversary of the large Baikonur cosmodrome. In addition, annually held competitions for the title of the best museum worker-guide, which indicates the great professionalism and love of the museum staff for the work.

Interesting for visitors

Today the Astronautics Museum at the Exhibition of Economic Achievements includes the main exhibition halls, divided by themes:

• "The creators of the space age."
• "Studies of the Moon and Space".
• "Cosmic morning."
• "History of the cosmos."
• "International Park".
• "The house in orbit."

In the museum there are models of the automatic station Luna-1 and Luna-9, the self-propelled apparatus Lunokhod, the rocket liquid engine, the "space" bathroom, the star ship compartment and many other thematic items.

The Cosmonautics Museum at VDNKh can be proud of especially unique, valuable for history collections:

• Fund of rare photographs and books, archival data and materials.
• The Space Mock-up Fund, rocket technology samples.
• A collection of special space equipment.
• Collection of flight clothes.
• Fund of personal belongings of Yuri Gagarin.
• Memorial funds about the life and work of Sergei Korolev.

In addition, the museum is rich in exhibition projects, open with the beginning of the 2000s. It is noteworthy that Spain, Germany and other countries participated in their creation.

A similar space museum is in Washington. However, many experts unanimously assert that the Moscow museum is more saturated and modern. And, of course, the same can be said by all patriotic amateurs of space subjects.

The Space Museum at VDNKh. Operating mode

This fascinating and interesting institution gladly opens the doors to its visitors every day, except Monday, from 10 to 19 hours. Please note: on Thursday the working hours are extended to 21.00, however the ticket office closes half an hour earlier.

The museum address is Mira Avenue, 111. It is most convenient to get to the VDNKh metro station. The uniform cost of the entrance ticket is 200 rubles. There are also discounts.