- Memorial Museum of Astronautics
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Memorial Museum of Astronautics
Coordinates: 55°49′22″N 37°38′23″E / 55.822733°N 37.63971°E The Memorial Museum of Astronautics (also known as the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics or Memorial Museum of Space Exploration) is a museum in Moscow, Russia, dedicated to space exploration. It is located within the base of the soaring Monument to the Conquerors of Space in the northeast of the city.[1] The museum contains a wide variety of space-related exhibits and models which explore the history of flight; astronomy; space exploration; space technology; and space in the arts. According to the Russian tourist board, the museum's collection holds approximately 85,000 different items, and receives approximately 300,000 visitors yearly.[2]
Contents
History
Though the space monument's tower was erected in 1964, the memorial museum did not exist for another seventeen years. Opening ceremonies took place on April 10, 1981, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the day Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth in space.[2].
Originally the museum focused almost exclusively on the Soviet space program with major themes like Gagarin and Sergey Korolyov, and Sputnik and Soyuz.
Renovation
On Cosmonautics Day, 2009, the museum was reopened after three years of reconstruction. It has virtually tripled its original size and has added new sections dedicated to space programs worldwide, including the USA, Europe, China and the ISS. The museum now features original interactive exhibits, as well as a refurbished promenade, the sculpture-lined Cosmonauts Alley which connects the museum to the Moscow metro. The museum is a favorite of students worldwide and a primary tourist attraction of the city.[3]
Exhibits
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Soviet Krechet spacesuit.
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Rocket propulsion units, RD-214.
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Space capsule used by Yuri Gagarin.
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Soviet moonrover Lunoкhod (Луноход).
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Crew manual from Apollo-Soyuz (1974), in Russian and English.
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Poster art of the Soviet space program.
See also
References
- ^ Moon Moscow and St. Petersburg; J. Chater and N. Toohey, ed.; Public Affairs, 2009; p.171.
- ^ a b "Russian Museums Guide". http://www.russianmuseums.info/M329.
- ^ Moon, p.171.
External links
- Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics official website (Russian)
en:Memorial Museum of Astronautics
Categories:- Museums established in 1981
- Museums in Moscow
- Aerospace museums
- History of spaceflight
- Visitor attractions in Moscow
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