Published on: 2026-08-20
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
There is a place in the Ostankino district where it is impossible not to look up to the sky. The 110-meter titanium monument “To the Conquerors of Space” has stood here since 1964 — in memory of how the country boldly declared itself the first in outer space. In the second half of the 20th century, the Museum of Cosmonautics appeared next to the monument — today one of the world’s largest scientific and historical museums. And a couple of blocks away, on 1st Ostankinskaya Street, hides a two-story mansion with a garden — the home of the man who opened the way to space for humanity.
“Mosbilet” opens doors to both of these worlds — and offers not just one route, but many ways to experience the cosmic story.
The museum where the history of conquering the Universe is kept
Exposition Museum of Cosmonautics is arranged so that visitors can trace the entire history of space exploration—from the first flights to modern international programs. The exhibition area covers more than 4,500 square meters, housing about two thousand exhibits.
In the first hall, you can immediately see the stuffed figures of the legendary Belka and Strelka, the first artificial Earth satellite, the descent module of the Vostok spacecraft, as well as the first spacesuits. In the “Creators of the Space Age” hall, visitors get acquainted with the works of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and see the office of the chief designer Sergei Korolev. Interactive displays allow visitors both to learn new things and to test their knowledge of astronautics through small quizzes. A special mention goes to the model of the Mir station’s base block: you can enter it and literally see from the inside how the orbital station is arranged.
Tickets for the main and temporary exhibitions of the museum can be purchased through the service “Mosbilet”.
Orion simulator: feel like a pilot
Looking at exhibits behind glass is one experience. A completely different one is to take a seat in the cabin of a spaceship, put on 3D glasses, and take the joystick in your hands. A simulator “Orion” works in the museum foyer. Its hydraulic platform replicates the vibration of real space technology.
The program is serious, like a real mission: launching a spacecraft into orbit using a carrier rocket, docking with the International Space Station, flying to the Moon with a specific task, maneuvering to avoid asteroids — and finally, returning to Earth. In these minutes, you can stop being a museum visitor and feel like the hero of your own space story.
The voice of the astronaut in the headphones
One of the most interesting ways to explore the exhibition — audio guide, recorded by pilot-cosmonaut Hero of the Soviet Union Alexander Laveykin. This is the story of a man for whom working on the Mir station and spacewalks are part of his biography. He will pass by Belka and Strelka, show the Soyuz spacecraft and the basic module of the Mir station, explain the complex engineering solutions behind each launch — and share his memories of it all, Alexander Laveykin.
The climax of the route is real lunar soil and meteorites. By the way, you can touch the latter and make a wish: not many museums allow you to literally touch matter from another world.
What cosmonauts dream about. A tour of the Museum of Cosmonautics with Alexander LaveykinLunar soil, bridge supports: the largest and most miniature exhibits of city museums
Glass that reflected the cosmos
A separate story is the exhibition “Planet SiO2”: here, space can be seen through the eyes of artists. This is a collection of works by domestic masters of artistic glass from the second half of the 20th century: many pieces have never been exhibited before and have been assembled for the first time in the Museum of Cosmonautics. The project united collections from several of the country’s largest repositories, including partners — the Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after S.M. Kirov (Yelagin Island Palace-Museum) and the Dyatkovo Crystal Museum.
It was an era when artistic glassmaking was actively developing in large-scale productions, and the creative searches of artisans were inextricably linked with the technological capabilities of factories. And it was precisely in these seemingly restrictive conditions that artists found amazingly expressive means to embody cosmic images through shape, texture, color, and the play of light. It results in an unexpected and beautiful meeting of two worlds: the cold precision of space engineering and the warmth of handmade glasswork. The exhibition shows how the large-scale socio-cultural phenomenon of space exploration found reflection in decorative and applied arts — in places least expected.
A house given for a companion
Just a few steps from the monument, on one of the quiet streets, stands a two-story mansion surrounded by a garden. Built in 1959 according to a design by Roman Semerdzhiev, this house was a gift from the Soviet government to Sergey Korolev for creating and successfully launching the world’s first artificial Earth satellite on October 4, 1957.
Today this is Memorial house-museum of academician S.P. Korolev — approximately 19,000 items are stored in the exhibition and closed collections: personal belongings, documents, letters, photographs, furniture, household items, works of fine art, as well as scientific-technical and art libraries. From student notes to the chief designer’s notebook — all of this was entrusted to the museum for state storage by his wife, Nina Koroleva.
The guided tour of the house introduces visitors to the authentic environment in which the man who literally opened the way to the stars for the world lived and worked. There is no feeling of a museum-monument here — it seems as if the owner has just stepped out of the room for a moment.
From Gogol’s little office to Korolev’s notes: exploring the workspaces of geniuses with Mosbilet
For those who are going with children
The museum has planned a program for the youngest guests as well. During the activity “Cosmonaut’s Baggage” Children first learn what the first rockets looked like and how modern spacecraft are constructed, and then find out where astronauts go and what personal items they take with them on an expedition. It all ends with a creative part: using stencils and acrylic fabric paints, the kids decorate a shopper bag with a thematic drawing — and take the finished bag home with them.
Gagarin’s bust and the Olympic bear: what items cosmonauts took into orbit
Master class “Space Painting” It begins with a tour during which children will see the first artificial Earth satellite, Yuri Gagarin’s spacecraft, spacesuits, and paintings by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. Inspired, the guests will take up gouache themselves: mastering the basic techniques of working with these paints, they will draw the starry sky, cosmic landscapes, and the figure of a cosmonaut in open space. At the end, participants will enjoy a tea party and games with an animator.
Space is not only technology but also people who believed in the impossible so strongly that it became possible. Tickets to the Museum of Cosmonautics and the House-Museum of Academician S.P. Korolev can be purchased through the service “Mosbilet” — and then it’s up to you: to approach the exhibits behind the glass, grab the steering wheel, or touch the meteorite and make a wish.
Get the main news promptly on Moscow city’s official channels in messengers “Max” and Telegram.
Please be advised; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.