Open-Air Space Museum
In 2018, the capital of Kazakhstan saw the emergence of numerous captivating cultural and historical landmarks. These additions included squares, museums, and monuments, all of which were generous gifts from various regions of the country in celebration of the city's 20th anniversary. Among these remarkable contributions was an open-air exposition, courtesy of the Kyzylorda region. This region is home to the renowned Baikonur Cosmodrome, the largest space launch facility globally and the site from which the first human ventured into space.
The open-air museum encompasses life-size models of space launch vehicles such as the Proton, Soyuz, Zenit, and the Buran interorbital spacecraft. Adjacent stands provide comprehensive information on the technology, including their history, launches, and technical specifications.
Among the exhibits, the Soyuz rocket holds particular distinction as one of the most renowned and frequently utilized launch vehicles worldwide. The Proton heavy-class launch vehicle, boasting comparable dimensions to its predecessor, can transport payloads weighing over three tons into orbit. Proton has played a pivotal role in launching Soviet and Russian orbital stations, including the International Space Station. It garners acclaim as the most successful rocket globally when considering various criteria such as launch cost, payload weight, and cost per kilogram of payload.
The Zenit rocket, a two-stage launch vehicle, has earned the moniker «Rocket of the 21st Century». Its inaugural flight took place in 1985, marking the first fully automated complex in space exploration.
The Buran orbiter, a component of the reusable transport space system, stands as the USSR's largest and most labor-intensive project in astronautics. Its creation spanned 18 years, engaging over a million workers from 1,286 enterprises. To facilitate the landing of the spacecraft at Baikonur, the Yubileiny airfield was constructed, featuring a reinforced runway.
The open-air museum resides within the Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary Space Center, a government agency specializing in space research and development. The center offers guided tours, particularly appealing to schoolchildren and aspiring professionals seeking to pursue careers in the space industry.
How to get there?
The Open-Air Space Museum is located in the southwest of Astana, along Turan Avenue where it turns towards Astana Grand Mosque. The museum can be reached by buses #18 and 37. The bus stop you need is called «Space Center».
Other tourist attractions near the museum:
- Kazanat Racecourse
- Astana Grand Mosque
- EXPO 2017 pavilions
- Nur Alem Museum of Future Energy
- Nazarbayev University
- MEGA Silk Way Shopping Mall
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