Tsiolkovsky State Museum of Cosmonautics. Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after

Photo: State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after. K.E. Tsiolkovsky

The Museum of the History of Cosmonautics is one of the main attractions of Kaluga; it is the first in the world and the largest museum in Russia dedicated to space topics. S.P. Korolev played a major role in the creation of the museum, and Yu.A. Gagarin was directly involved.

It was not by chance that Kaluga was chosen to open the museum; K. E. Tsiolkovsky, a famous Russian and Soviet scientist, the founder of theoretical cosmonautics, lived and created his main works in this city.

The museum building itself is an original and unusual architectural project that fits well into the local landscape: at the top of the slope there is an impressive massive carriage with a 38-meter Vostok rocket, the ship on which man first ascended into space.

The State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky is widely known not only in Russia, but also abroad, conducts active research work, and organizes various educational and cultural events. A visit to the museum will be interesting for both adults and children.

The history of the creation of the Museum of Cosmonautics

For the first time, the idea of ​​​​opening such a museum in Kaluga was expressed at a meeting of the anniversary commission created to prepare for the celebration of the hundredth anniversary (since 1857) of the birth of Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky, who lived most of his life in this city. This proposal was actively supported by Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, Chief Designer of rocket and space technology of the USSR.

On May 13, 1960, a decree was issued by the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR on the construction of the State Museum of K. E. Tsiolkovsky in Kaluga. Over the next year, an open competition for designs for the building of the future museum was held, in which more than 220 works took part. The winner of the competition was the project of a team of architects: B. G. Barkhin, V. A. Strogogo, N. G. Orlova, K. D. Fomin (later, in 1968, for their work they were awarded the State Prize of the RSFSR in the field of architecture ).

On June 13, 1961, a symbolic stone was laid at the site of future construction; the honor of implementing this tradition was given to Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin, who two months earlier became the first person in world history to fly into outer space.

Construction work was carried out from 1963 to 1967, on October 3 of which the grand opening of the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky (GMIC) took place. Since 1982, the museum received the status of a federal scientific and methodological center that manages space museums and exhibitions.

For more than 50 years of operation of the State Museum of Culture named after. Tsiolkovsky became an important attraction of Kaluga, attracting visitors not only from Russia, but also from many other countries (it is estimated that the museum received more than 11 million guests during its operation).

Opening hours and prices of GMIC im. Tsiolkovsky

The Museum of the History of Cosmonautics is open 6 days a week:

• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (last Friday of the month - sanitary day) - from 10:00 to 18:00;
• Wednesday - from 11:00 to 21:00;
• Saturday and Sunday - from 10:00 to 19:00;
• Monday is a day off.

Opening hours of the structural divisions of the State Medical Institute named after. Tsiolkovsky:

• The Kaluga Planetarium and the A.L. Chizhevsky House Museum operate on a similar schedule;
• House-Museum of K. E. Tsiolkovsky - opening hours differ only on Wednesday: from 11:00 to 20:00;
• The apartment museum of K. E. Tsiolkovsky in Borovsk is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, Monday is a day off.

The cost of visiting the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics (without excursion services and visiting exhibitions) is:

• for students, pensioners - 150 rubles;
• for adults - 250 rubles;
• for preschoolers and students under 16 years old - free.

Please note that a special price may be set for visiting some exhibitions according to the order.

Prices for visiting the museum with excursion services for a group of 7 to 25 people:

• for preschoolers - 50 rubles;
• for pupils under 16 years of age, students, pensioners - 200 rubles;
• for adults - 350 rub.

An individual visit to the museum with excursion service is possible; its cost for a group of 1 to 6 people is 3,000 rubles.

Amateur photography and video shooting in the museum is free, professional photography is 3,000 rubles. in 1 hour.

Up-to-date information on the cost of visiting the museum and its additional services can be found on the official website of the State Museum of Culture named after. K. E. Tsiolkovsky.

Main exhibition

Visitors to the Kaluga Museum can get acquainted with the history of aeronautics, aviation, the development of domestic cosmonautics, the activities of many outstanding chief designers, and see a collection of rocket engines. Special attention is paid to the scientific works and developments of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, images of the technology of the future (airplane, airship, rocket, ethereal settlements) substantiated by the scientist are presented.

One of the most spectacular in the museum is the huge hall of rocket and space technology, where both copies and originals of spacecraft are exhibited, some of which show traces of fire and friction. Among the exhibits you can see various tools and food of the astronauts, soil from the Moon, the landed capsule of the Vostok spacecraft, models of existing or planned space stations, including a model of the base unit of the Mir orbital station, open to the public. Any visitor to the museum can go inside, see and feel how the life of astronauts works, in what conditions they have to live and work.

In total, the museum collection includes more than 75,000 exhibits - the most complete collection of museum objects on astronautics in the country, many of which have been in space and exist in a single copy.

Second stage of the museum

In 2014, construction began on the second stage of the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics - a modern building with an area of ​​12,500 square meters. m, which should allow the museum's exhibition to be expanded fivefold. According to the project, a new three-story building made of glass and metal will be integrated into the landscape and architecture of the existing building, and will also be connected to it by an underground passage.

The planned opening date of the second stage is December 2019.

On the roof of the building it is planned to place a dome of a solar observatory, a platform for solar panels, skylights to illuminate the upper level rooms, and also to develop an area for museum visitors and residents of Kaluga.

The new building will house exhibits that are currently in the museum's storage facilities. Special interactive zones will be created for visitors: a 3D cinema, a scientific adventure complex “Space Travel” with simulating the effects of space flight, an interactive theater class, a space simulator room, as well as a “Space Cafe” with a corresponding menu.

Divisions

The State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky, in addition to the main building, has four more departments.

• Kaluga Planetarium opened at the same time as the museum, but not so long ago its equipment was updated, and now it houses one of the newest planetary devices - the Skymaster model from Carl Zeiss, which allows you to create the effect of real space travel. The planetarium offers more than 25 interactive programs designed for visitors of different ages - from elementary school students to college students and adults.
• Memorial House-Museum of K. E. Tsiolkovsky is a two-story house with a yard and a garden, located not far from the main building of the State Museum of Culture and Culture. In the house where the scientist lived and worked for 29 years, the interiors of that time have been recreated: simple furnishings, stove heating, and in the rooms there are many tools and things that belonged to the inventor. Museum visitors can see first-hand the contrast between primitive life (there was not even electricity in the house) and the ideas that the scientist was working on.
• Museum-apartment of K. E. Tsiolkovsky is located in the city of Borovsk, Kaluga region, where the scientist lived for several years and began his teaching and scientific activities. The exhibition of the Apartment Museum is dedicated to Tsiolkovsky’s childhood and youth, his development as a scientist, and the history of the creation of his key works in the field of theoretical cosmonautics.
• House-Museum of A. L. Chizhevsky- the first museum of the outstanding Soviet biophysicist, the founder of aeroionification, heliobiology and electrohematology, a poet and artist, who was in friendly and scientific relations with Tsiolkovsky. The most outstanding exhibit of the museum is the Chizhevsky Chandelier, an air ionizer developed by the scientist.

Kaluga Museum of the History of Cosmonautics - panoramas on Google Maps

How to get to the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics in Kaluga

GMIC is located in the Leninsky district of the city on Academician Korolev Street, 2. 300 meters from the museum building there is a public transport stop “Park named after. Tsiolkovsky". You can get there by several types of transport:

• buses No. 2, 3, 75, 92;
• trolleybuses No. 1 (can be reached from the railway and bus stations), 2, 3;
• minibus No. 1 (can be reached from the railway and bus stations), 66.

You can get to the museum by car by turning from Gagarin Street, which connects Kirova Street with the Kaluga-Bor highway, onto Akademika Korolev Street, at the end of which the museum is located.

In addition, you can get to the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics by taking a taxi. A convenient way to place an order is to do it through a mobile application, for example, Yandex Taxi, Uber, Gett.

Video review of the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics in Kaluga

The State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky in Kaluga is the world's first and largest space museum in Russia, created with the direct participation of S. P. Korolev and Yu. A. Gagarin.

On June 13, 1961, Yu. A. Gagarin laid the first stone in the foundation of the building of the future museum. The museum was opened to visitors in 1967. Architects - B. Barkhin, E. Kireev, N. Orlova, V. Strogiy, K. Fomin. The “Conquerors of Space” mosaic in the museum lobby was created by A. Vasnetsov from smalt and natural stone.

This was the beginning of a new era in the history of mankind - penetration beyond the Earth's atmosphere, which confirmed the correctness of the theory of space exploration developed by K.E. Tsiolkovsky. The exhibition is located in three halls. One of the halls is dedicated to Tsiolkovsky’s scientific heritage in the field of rocket dynamics and theoretical cosmonautics, as well as the scientist’s work in the field of airship construction, aerodynamics and aviation, and philosophy.

Model of an airplane based on the drawings of K.E. Tsiolkovsky (project 1895)

In the “Hall of the History of Rocketry and Practical Cosmonautics,” visitors are introduced to the beginning of the development of space technology - the use of combat rockets for scientific purposes: to study the upper layers of the atmosphere (meteorological rockets), to conduct medical and biological research on animals at high altitudes. Here are exact copies of satellites for studying near space and automatic stations, landers for exploring the Moon, Mars and Venus, as well as real lunar soil. The central place in the hall is occupied by a section reflecting the achievements of our country in the field of manned space flights. We were the first in the world to launch the Vostok spacecraft into orbit with Yuri Gagarin on board - an exact copy of this ship is in the center of the hall.

Self-propelled vehicle "Lunokhod-2v".

Model of the first artificial Earth satellite.

Descent vehicle of the automatic lunar station “Luna-9v”.

The exhibition includes “space clothing”, elements of the life support system for astronauts in flight (food, medicines and medical instruments, installations for cleaning the atmosphere in the orbital station, portable emergency supplies).

Liquid rocket engine 11D122 (RO-200)

Reusable spacecraft “Buran”.

The museum contains a model of the base unit of the Mir orbital station, which is open to the public. Since 1966, the museum has been holding Scientific Readings in memory of K. E. Tsiolkovsky. In 1967, the museum was designated a scientific and methodological center for coordinating the activities of space museums in the USSR, and in 1979 it received the status of a research institution. In 1993, the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky was classified as one of the largest cultural and educational institutions of particular social significance.

A model of the Vostok launch vehicle on the museum grounds.

The museum regularly hosts various exhibitions; the museum travels with exhibitions outside of Kaluga, including abroad. Over the years, the museum has been visited by over 10 million people.

Sources - Wikipedia, otrip.ru, okaluge.com and other sites.

Kaluga residents believe that their land gave impetus to the development of nuclear energy and astronautics. The museum, which Kaluga can be proud of, is located in this city. The building, under the dome of which unique exhibits telling about the history of astronautics are collected, began construction in 1936. The first completed part of the future complex was the house-museum of K.E. Tsiolkovsky.

Then the war began. For some time, Kaluga forgot about the complex. Construction of the cosmonautics museum continued after 1945. Very soon, on the steep bank of the Yachenka River, a modern building impressively grew up in the park, in which exhibits from different times were carefully collected.

Construction of the museum

In 1957, an artificial Earth satellite was launched into orbit. He opened a new page in the history of mankind. Two years later, the largest Soviet scientists published a letter. It said that it was necessary to build a complex in which jet technology would be assembled. In 1960, it was decided to create such a cosmonautics center. The museum, which Kaluga began to build immediately, was created after reviewing more than 230 works by architects. The authors of the project that was accepted received the State Prize of the RSFSR. In 1961, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin was invited to lay the first stone. He picked up a trowel, took a coin out of his pocket, and showed it to the people closely surrounding him. With a smile on his face, he placed a penny, according to ancient tradition, under the first brick.

And then he began to quickly lay one brick after another. It turned out that he masterfully wields a trowel. Finally, the astronaut straightened up, handed the tool to the builders and raised his hands, greeting those gathered. The Kaluga residents enthusiastically responded with a storm of applause. Thus, the world's first cosmonaut laid the foundation on which a museum of the history of astronautics was later erected. Kaluga in 1967, in a solemn ceremony, opened its doors to the first visitors. Cosmonaut A.G. arrived at the opening. Nikolaev, who spoke at the rally.

The second building of the museum is currently under construction. Its area will be 4 times larger than the original building. The new building, consisting of three floors, will be bright, as it is constructed of glass and concrete. It will have elevators and escalators.

From its roof and ramp there will be an amazing view of the Yachenskoye Reservoir. It is envisaged that people with disabilities will also be able to climb to the roof and to the observation deck. Everyone will have the opportunity to visit a modern cinema and take part in the “Space Journey”, in which they will feel the sensations of orbital flight. The “Space Cafe” will also be open. In addition, museum workers prepare many more surprises and special effects for visitors.

On the steep slope of Yachenka

In the park where the great scientist Tsiolkovsky is buried, there is an obelisk. Further, on the site there is the first historical point of cosmonautics - the museum (Kaluga). It has simple and concise forms. The body of the building is an elongated rectangle. The long longitudinal walls are blank, the ends are transparent and glazed. A planetarium made of aluminum is embedded into it on the south side.

It has the shape of a vertical ellipsoid and rises above the roof of the museum. This component gives the building a certain aura of energy and symbolizes man’s breakthrough into outer space. Nearby there is a unique outdoor exhibit of the museum, high in the sky - the Vostok launch vehicle, which stands on a special pedestal. This is not a copy, but a backup rocket.

How are the museum halls arranged?

The complex consists of several parts. It has an introductory hall, rooms for the biography (scientific) of K.E. Tsiolkovsky and the implementation of his ideas. There is also a planetarium. Clearly divided by theme, the halls form a single space. The composition of the exhibits is carefully thought out. The color scheme helps create a good background for them and fully reveal the main idea of ​​the exhibition. The design used: monumental painting, mosaic, graphics, sculpture, photographs. Everything is aimed at showing the development of astronautics. The museum, which Kaluga cares about tirelessly, is constantly updated with new exhibits.

In the first hall

The visitor begins his tour of the complex from the introductory hall. It contains a backup. The object itself was in orbit for twenty-six days. And his double was transferred to the museum. It is suspended high under the arch of the hall and floats in space.

The weight of this satellite is 83.6 kg, its diameter is 80 cm, and its orbital time around the earth is 96.17 minutes. There is also a kind of “epigraph” to the entire exhibition - a unique exhibit. This is a mosaic panel “Soviet people - conquerors of space”. The creation is monumental. It occupies a wall area of ​​180 square meters. m. and talks about working people, space discoverers. He is accompanied by the words of K.E. Tsiolkovsky.

The next room is the biography of K.E. Tsiolkovsky in his works

A large display case on the wall shows the development of rocket technology. It depicts man's dream of flight since ancient times, the Renaissance and more recent centuries. The names of Leonardo da Vinci, Copernicus, Newton, Lomonosov have not been forgotten. The works of K.E. are displayed in separate display cases. Tsiolkovsky on aeronautics. In addition, a model of the airship that the scientist created is shown. There are also his works on aerodynamics and aviation.

There is also a model of A.F.’s aircraft here. Mozhaisky, dating back to 1881. Back in 1878, K. Tsiolkovsky expressed the idea of ​​possible flights into space, or rather, interplanetary communications. Back then it was complete fantasy. Then he comes to the conclusion that the only means of transportation is a rocket. Describing Konstantin Eduardovich gives a description. He accompanies his work not only with calculations, but also with drawings. Books published about him abroad are also exhibited.

It features jet engines. In the very center of the hall there is a model of the Vostok spacecraft and a photo panel “Cosmonaut A. Leonov’s spacewalk.”

There is also the Mir orbital station. It is open to visitors. In addition, there are life-size copies of artificial earth satellites:

• "Cosmos-166" for the study of the Sun.
• "Cosmos-108" for atmospheric analysis.
• "Proton", which studies ultra-high energy particles.
• "Molniya-1", broadcasting television programs.

Life-size copies of lunars:

• AMS "Luna-9", "Luna-16", which remotely explored Selena.
• Collection of lunar soil.

For research of Mars and Venus, the Mars-3 and Venera-9 stations were used. They are also placed in the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics. Kaluga does not yet have sufficient space to accommodate all large objects.

Central location

What most attracts the attention of visitors is the original descent module of the Soyuz-34 spacecraft, the Vostok ejection seat with a dummy of an astronaut. And also spacesuits - emergency rescue and for extravehicular activities. As well as the self-propelled vehicle "Lunokhod-2", which was controlled from the ground. The working model of the Baikonur cosmodrome gives an idea of ​​the preparation for the launch of a launch vehicle with a spacecraft.

As the greatest relic, the Museum of Cosmonautics (Kaluga) keeps the logbook of the first cosmonaut. It's small. It was intended for records by a person in orbit about whether the Earth is clearly visible from space, how the sky is seen, whether the horizon is sufficiently visible, and some other issues.

starry sky

The planetarium's double doors close tightly behind visitors. Now the magic will happen. The light goes out slowly. The outlines of the hall disappear in the darkness. The apparatus that towered in the very center of the round hall becomes invisible. He was somewhat reminiscent of a grasshopper, only huge, with angular knees. Next, the lecturer says, all visitors fall silent. He tells the story of a famous astronomer who lived in ancient days in Italy. His name is Giovanni Schiaparelli. It was he who discovered “channels” on Mars. For hours Schiaparelli sat in complete darkness so that his eyes could feel the most insignificant light. Only after such a trick can you look through the telescope eyepiece.

So, the velvety depth of the night sky appears before the audience. It fascinates and beckons. Drawing of rosary constellations. There is not a single cloud. The depth of the celestial sphere amazes with its purity and infinity. Solemn music sounds, and a scattering of countless stars covers the huge dome above their heads. The hall seems to increase in size and is filled with the coolness of the night.

In fact, the dome of the planetarium is not that big, but how similar it is to reality and how impressive it looks. The audience cannot contain their delight. The Museum of Cosmonautics works with a creative approach to visitors and is visited by almost everyone who comes to this complex. When the session comes to an end, it means that night gives way to dawn. The stars are melting and turning pale. The dawn rises, it flares up brighter every second. The fiery disk of the luminary appears in the east. It illuminates the modern city of Kaluga.

Then experienced planetarium lecturers introduce visitors to the history of outer space, people from ancient times, the structure of our solar system, and the climate on other planets. They talk about what processes take place on the Sun and in the depths of other distant stars. Only here can you be amazed by the power and grandeur of the Universe. The planetarium with modern technology makes a great aesthetic and educational impression. For a special sense of space, museum workers put a piece of a meteorite in it that you can touch.

What else is included in the museum?

The complex includes the house-museum of L.A. Chizhevsky and two houses of K.E. Tsiolkovsky. One is located in Borovsk, the other in Kaluga. The one in Kaluga is located in close proximity to the museum. And in it you can see the interiors in which Konstantin Eduardovich lived more than a hundred years ago. He stayed in Kaluga for twenty-nine years, having bought this house in 1904 not far from the river. The building was one-story. But four years later there was a big flood in the spring - water flooded the house. The family moved to neighbors, and Konstantin Eduardovich remained in the attic along with his books, manuscripts and instruments. Everything he needed was brought to him by boat. After the water subsided, in the summer a mezzanine and a veranda were built on top, and, in addition, a barn. The mezzanine became an office. It is in it that the scientist’s original belongings are preserved.

And the veranda turned into a workshop. Through it, Konstantin Eduardovich went out onto the roof, where he did experiments, watched birds fly, and looked at the starry sky at night.

Kaluga, Museum of Cosmonautics: opening hours

The museum is open daily, except Mondays, from ten in the morning to six in the evening. On Saturdays - until seven. On Wednesdays the opening time is delayed by an hour. But the opening hours in the evening have been extended - until 21:00. A sanitary day is provided. It is held on the last Friday of the month. Hospitable Kaluga welcomes tourists. The Museum of Cosmonautics and the Planetarium coordinate their operating hours with the schedule of the entire complex. For the convenience of visitors, all sections of the complex are open at the same time.

Ticket prices

(Kaluga) offers affordable prices for services. Anyone under sixteen years old visits the complex for free. For students and retired people, the ticket price is one hundred rubles. For those who work - one hundred and fifty. Photos can be taken by paying another two hundred rubles.