The Year of Space at VDNH continues with another special programme dedicated to Yuri Gagarin's birthday. Free guided thematic tours, a lecture, a film screening and a meeting from the Space Lessons cycle will be held at the Cosmonautics and Aviation Centre from 9 March to 14 March. The Centre will host a video story and a quiz about the legendary astronaut online.
The programme launches on 9 March—Yuri Gagarin's birthday. The website of the Cosmonautics and Aviation Centre and its social media accounts—Instagram, Vkontakte, Facebook and Odnoklassniki—will host a video tale: Gagarin. The Road to the Dream. Viewers will learn about interesting facts from the hero's childhood and adolescence; how he made his way to the first squad of astronauts; the details of his legendary flight and life after returning from orbit. They will also examine some artefacts from the Centre that directly related to Yuri's story. At 12 p.m., a quiz will be published in the Stories section of the VDNH social media page and the Centre's social media pages: all who are interested can test their knowledge about Yuri Gagarin by taking the test put together by the astronaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. Readers of the #SpaceFromHome blog will find special publication on the same day in which the tour guides of the Centre will talk about the impact that the world's first astronauts had on their lives.
At 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on March 10th, the Cosmonautics and Aviation Centre will host a themed tour: Time of the First Ones: Yuri Gagarin. Guests will be accompanied by a tour guide as they explore the main exposition, where they will see the models of Gagarin's SK-1 spacesuit and the Vostok series spaceship. They will learn about Gagarin's heroic accomplishments on Earth and beyond, while tracing the evolution of domestic cosmonautics. Total number of spots in tour groups is limited: to participate and reserve your right for free entrance, register in advance.
At 2 p.m. on 13 March, the Kulibin Pro Lectorium will host a meeting within the framework of the Space Lessons project. As per tradition, Fyodor Yurchikhin, pilot and astronaut, Hero of Russia and President of the Cosmonautics and Aviation Centre, will host the meeting. Evgeniy Barishevsky, the head of the Zvyozdniy Town city district, and Victor Ren, Vice Head of the Centre for Preparation of Astronauts, test pilot and instructor, Hero of Russia, will attend the meeting as Fyodor's guests of honor. They will discuss with the viewers Yuri Gagarin's personality, how he got into the profession, his importance for the domestic space programme and the traditions of the Zvyozdniy Town that have been going strong for 60 years. Attendance is free, but advanced registration is required. For those unable to attend, the event will be streamed live on the VDNH official Odnoklassniki community.
On 14 March the Congress Hall of the Cosmonautics and Aviation Centre invites all cinema lovers—at 1 p.m., it will host a screening of the film Gagarin. First in Space. The film depicts the life of Yuri Gagarin, his childhood and adolescence, his workdays with the astronaut squad, his relationships with his wife Valentina as well as Sergei Korolyov, the general constructor. And, of course, it will tell the story of his legendary space flight. Upon viewing, the film will be open for discussion with Fyodor Yurchikhin, who will talk about the influence Yuri Gagarin had on him. Fyodor will also take questions from the viewers. Participation in the event requires advanced registration.
Once this event wraps up, the guests of the Centre can move on to Kulibin Pro educational centre, where they can attend a lecture by Denis Prudnik, a science educator, at 4:30 p.m.: Vostok Space Programme—the History of the First Space Flights. The lecturer will discuss the first squad of astronauts, the events preceding their flights and the technical innovations that made the USSR the leader of the space race. Events are free to attend, but advance registration is required.
All events at the centre require compliance with anti-epidemic safety measures currently in place. Visitors must maintain social distancing and wear masks and gloves. For more information on the anti-coronavirus measures at VDNH, please consult the official website.