Memory on Earth: the monuments in the capital dedicated to the conquest of space
Moscow honors and preserves the memory of those who managed to bring the stars and planets closer, revealed the secrets of the universe and gave people a chance to learn more about space. Through their labors, these outstanding scientists, engineers and cosmonauts paved the way for the conquest of extraterrestrial space. A number of monuments in the city are dedicated to both individual personalities and significant events in the history of cosmonautics. Many of the monuments have protected status. Among them are cultural heritage sites of federal significance. For example, in the memorial park near VDNKh metro station, there is the Monument to the Conquerors of Space, which includes a statue of K.E. Tsiolkovsky, and a Cosmonauts’ Alley with busts of Yu.A. Gagarin, V.V. Nikolayeva-Tereshkova, P.I. Belyaev, A.A. Leonov and V.M. Komarov, and there is a bust of Academician S.P. Korolev at his memorial house-museum. In addition, there are various designated objects of cultural heritage elsewhere in Moscow, including the bust of V.N. Volkov in Cosmonaut Volkov Square, the monument to Yu.A. Gagarin in Gagarin Square on Leninsky Avenue and the monument to M.V. Keldysh in Cosmonauts’ Alley.
Other works of monumental and decorative art without protected status can be seen in the capital. These are the sculptural group Intercosmos (2 Krasnogo Mayaka Street), the monument The Flight of the First Man in Space (3a Sayanskaya Street, on the territory of School No. 1502, Energia), the monument to S.P. Korolev and the bust of S.E. Savitskaya (111 Prospekt Mira, near the Cosmonautics Memorial Museum Moscow State Institution), the bust of V.A. Solovyov on Cosmonauts’ Alley in the memorial park near VDNKh metro station, and the monument to the Creators of the First Earth Satellite on Riga Square.
All the above monuments are landmarks and sites of interest on the city map. They are meticulously cared for, being restored or repaired, washed, cleaned and tidied on a regular basis.
This year, on the eve of Cosmonautics Day, the specialists of the Municipal Maintenance Department cleaned the monument to scientist K.E. Tsiolkovsky, the sculptural compositions on the Cosmonauts’ Alley and the Conquerors of Space monument near VDNKh metro station.
The monument to K.E. Tsiolkovsky, the founder of modern cosmonautics, and the sculptural compositions dedicated to Yu.A. Gagarin, A.A. Leonov, V.V. Tereshkova and other explorers of extraterrestrial space are located at the foot of the Conquerors of Space monument on Cosmonauts’ Alley.
The alley was opened on October 4, 1967 in honor of the tenth anniversary of the launch of the first artificial satellite of the Earth, and it was designed by architects Mikhail Barshch and Alexander Kolchin. According to their plan, monuments to space pioneers were to be located along the pedestrian part.
All the sculptures and monuments require special care. First, the specialists wash the monuments and busts with water, then apply a special detergent with a neutral composition, thoroughly clean all elements with soft brushes and wash off the foam with high-pressure apparatuses.
The 107-meter-high monument to the Conquerors of Space is made of titanium panels. The total weight of the structure is 250 tons. Climbers are involved in the work, and the structure is washed with demineralized water under pressure using a high-altitude washing apparatus and a 20-meter carbon boom.
Last year was an anniversary year for the legendary monument. The monument was opened on November 4, 1964, on the seventh anniversary of the launch of the first artificial satellite of the Earth, with the participation of Sergei Korolev and members of the first generation of cosmonauts. The restoration work was completed in 2023. Special attention was paid to the reliefs depicting space conquerors, inscriptions on the stylobate and decorative ventilation grilles.
The iconic monument to Yuri Gagarin on Leninsky Avenue also requires special care. The work involves automatic hydraulic lifting platforms, pressure hoses and teams of specialists, usually consisting of six people.
The monument was erected in Moscow on July 4, 1980. Its height is 42.5 meters, and its total weight, including the copy of the Vostok descent vehicle placed at the feet of the hero, is 12 tons. The figure of the cosmonaut consists of 239 titanium blocks. This material is used in the construction of spaceships and airplanes.
The restoration of the iconic monument was completed last year. The monument itself was cleaned of dirt and corrosion and all the titanium plates were washed. Not only was the outside of the monument cleaned, but the inside as well—with the work being conducted in a space with a diameter of just one meter. The stylobate and the mock-up of the Vostok spacecraft descent vehicle were restored.
Restoration is a crucial part of monument care. It is approached painstakingly and carefully. Thus, in 2025 project documentation for the restoration of the monument to V.N. Volkov is to be developed. The monument was installed in 1975. The bronze bust of the legendary hero stands on a cylindrical granite pedestal. On the pedestal you can see the inscription “To Pilot-Cosmonaut Vladislav Nikolaevich Volkov,” and an image of the awards received by him. The composition is surrounded by a bronze ribbon symbolizing the orbit.
The monument is dedicated to the flight of the Soyuz-11 spacecraft in 1971. It delivered the first crew to the Salyut-1 orbital station. Unfortunately, all the cosmonauts were killed during re-entry. The designers of the monument were sculptor G.M. Toidze and architects I.M. Studenikin and B.I. Tkhor.
The restoration project will have to take into account all the complications related to the interaction with the monument’s structure and materials. The work will be carried out only after the documentation has been agreed with Mosgornasledie and under the control of the department.