The majestic monument in honor of the conquerors of space is familiar to everyone who has been to VDNH: it stands at the end of the pedestrian alley of cosmonauts.

After the successful launch of Sputnik-1, the country announced a competition for the creation of a monument that would perpetuate such a significant event. More than 350 projects participated in the competition, but a special commission chose the option of architects Alexander Kolchin, Mikhail Barshch and sculptor Andrey Faidysh-Krandievsky. Initially, the name of the monument was listed as the “Creator People”, but already during the construction period, people began to fly into space, so it was renamed. Sergey Korolev himself closely watched the work. The monument was erected in 1964.

The monument to the conquerors of space is a 107-meter structure at an angle of 77 degrees in the form of a rocket rushing up, which leaves behind a long plume. This is the tallest monument in the country after the Victory Monument on Poklonnaya Hill.

Titanium panels were used to finish the metal structure — this solution was proposed by Korolev. At the base of the monument, you can see high reliefs depicting everyone related to the conquest of space, and in the center of the stylobate there is a quatrain of writer Nikolai Gribachev and a dedication: to commemorate the outstanding achievements of the Soviet people in the exploration of outer space, this monument has been built.” In addition, excerpts from TASS reports are posted around, which tell about the success of the USSR in the field of space exploration. Inside the stylobate is the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics.

The monument was depicted on coins and postcards, as well as filmed in videos of PetShop Boys and Deep Forest music bands.