Kaluga is the cradle of space. It was in this Russian city that K. E. Tsiolkovsky lived and worked for forty years. Here came Yu. A. Gagarin, S. P. Korolev, A. L. Chizhevsky. Residents are proud of the amazing history of their city.
Amazing park
Arguing over which city is called the cradle of cosmonautics and why, we note that Kaluga was awarded such a high rank, because the “father” of the space age worked here. The city has a Tsiolkovsky park, in which an obelisk is installed. The scientist loved to walk here, talking about possible launches of aircraft beyond the borders of our planet. It is here that Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky is buried, an inscription in the park testifies to this.
Space Museum
It was opened on October 3, 1967. The State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky became the first museum on this subject. The exhibition dedicated to the history of Baikonur is of particular interest to visitors. Everyone who decided to visit the cradle of space will be sure to get acquainted with the starting key presented at the exhibition, as well as with the concrete fragment that melted after the launch of the Proton from the launch site site.
Interactive features
The K.E. Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics offers visitors to pass some tests in order to fully experience the scale of the universe.
Special terminals for determining weight like children. Nearby there is an apparatus offering tasks for the possession of space knowledge. Upon successful completion of all tasks, a thank-you letter from the museum management and a special electronic certificate will be sent to the registered guest’s mail.
The cradle of astronautics is that place in which each element reminds of space. For example, in a museum you can try on a real spacesuit, find yourself inside the Mir orbital space station. Inside the station, you can see the mannequin of the astronaut controlling the manual docking. Planet Earth is visible from the porthole of the Mir orbital complex. Under the porthole there is a berth that resembles the cabin of a ship, a train compartment.
The cradle of astronautics is proud that it was here that projects were created that allowed humanity to rush into the vastness of the universe.
Near the museum, the Oka River flows, you can admire it from the windows of the museum.
The ideas of the "father" of space
Tsiolkovsky Konstantin Eduardovich calculated, worked out the drawings of the current model of a manned space rocket in 1896-1923. Engineers turned his ideas into reality and collected a sample based on the drawings.
An exposition has been made in the main hall of the museum, which tells about the history of Russian cosmonautics. Visitors falling into the walls of this “space temple” are amazed at the variety of equipment presented for viewing.
The uniqueness of the collection lies in the fact that it created perfect copies of satellites, spacecraft launched to the moon, and automatic stations designed to study the surface of Venus and Mars.
The history of Kaluga is closely connected with space exploration, which is why the museum of K. E. Tsiolkovsky is one of the recommended for visiting for those tourists who find themselves in the city.
In addition to various copies of satellites, an exposition was created on which rocket engines are presented. A special place is reserved for unusual tools, without which it is impossible to carry out repair work in zero gravity.
For example, there are models of two anchor keys, as well as the original tools of the second half of the twentieth century.
Unique exhibits
Only in this museum is there an original descent vehicle that has passed through the atmosphere of our planet. The Vostok-5 spacecraft was piloted by cosmonaut V.F. Bykovsky. The flight was completed in June 1963.
The cradle of astronautics is rightfully proud of this exhibit, which makes it possible to understand the grandeur of the work carried out in the Soviet Union on the development of space.
It is difficult to imagine how much effort, work, intelligence, scientific development is implemented in the technical exhibits presented in the halls of the museum.
The Soviet cosmonaut Popovich believed that space is an integration of all scientific knowledge accumulated by mankind in the fields of geography, biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and material science.
“Only a person who possesses various skills inherent in representatives of other professions, that is, knows everything by drop, can become an astronaut,” the founder of astronautics believed. That is why increased demands have always been made on space explorers. In addition to excellent physical preparation, the astronaut had to have a certain intellectual level.
At the exit from the museum, a monument to Yu. A. Gagarin, the first conqueror of outer space, was erected.
House of the “father” of space
It is in Kaluga that the house - the museum of K. E. Tsiolkovsky is located. The first thing that catches the eye of visitors is the unusual modesty, determination, asceticism of the scientist. It is hard to imagine that in this small wooden house, located on the banks of the Oka, the foundations of world cosmonautics were created. The history of Kaluga has interesting facts from the biography of Tsiolkovsky, family photographs, fragments of his manuscripts, drawings. All this is presented in the estate, is available for familiarization with tourists.
In the summer, the scientist enjoyed cycling, and in winter, skating on the Oka. After an illness in childhood, he lost his hearing, so the house-estate presents a collection of different auditory funnels used by Tsiolkovsky. His favorite mug has been preserved, on which there is an inscription: "Poverty teaches, spoils happiness." It was this saying that the scientist liked to pronounce; it fully characterizes the features of his personality.
Chizhevsky Museum
Who are they honorary citizens of Kaluga? One of these people is A. L. Chizhevsky. This man has become an inventor in various fields. It was he who became the creator of a unique chandelier, relieving hundreds of people of constant headaches.
The museum presents a huge collection of their original designs:
- in the form of an earth globe;
- mustache chandeliers;
- a huge ceiling lamp;
- models in the form of an antenna.
All these unusual exhibits were on sale, so the museum has original industrial products.
In 1924, Chizhevsky was looking for a relationship between the physical processes taking place on the Sun and the historical events observed on Earth.
The scientist was able to identify the laws of such processes, which was appreciated by his contemporaries.
Currently, many studies conducted by Chizhevsky have not spent their relevance, are used in science and technology.
Neither Chizhevsky nor Tsiolkovsky had a special technical education. It is possible that this is why they became extraordinary personalities, deprived of various classical cliches and restrictions.
These scientists boldly took up any questions involving the use of several scientific fields at once.
Pride of Kaluga
Considering the legendary personalities whose fate is connected with this city, one cannot ignore another person. Karpov Alexander Terentyevich - this name is known to many citizens. He was born on October 17, 1917 in one of the villages of the Kaluga region. After graduating from the factory school in Kaluga, he worked as a mechanic in one of the tool workshops of the local machine-building plant. The young man combined work at the factory with training at the flying club.
After serving in the Red Army, he successfully graduated from the Kachin Aviation Flight School, received distribution in a unit stationed in Ukraine.
From the first days of the war, junior lieutenant Karpov was on the fronts of World War II in 121 fighter aviation regiments, controlled a Yak-1 aircraft.
By the fall of 1943, Captain Karpov A.T. completed 370 sorties, 87 battles were carried out, 23 Nazi aircraft were shot down. For heroic dedication, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, was awarded the Golden Star medal, the Order of Lenin. Major Karpov A.T. died in the fall of 1944 as a result of a plane crash. Kaluga is proud of its pilot, the city has a museum in which there are personal belongings, as well as some historical documents.
Symbols of the city
What does the flag of the city of Kaluga look like? This administrative center, located in the north of the Central Russian Upland, less than 200 kilometers from Moscow, on the high bank of the Oka, has its own official symbols. The first mention of the city dates back to 1371. It was at this time that Kaluga was first mentioned in the letter of the Lithuanian prince Olgerd, he is considered the time of the official appearance of the city.
In March 1777, Empress Catherine II issued a decree approving the coat of arms of Kaluga. In the blue field is a wavy silver belt (Oka), which is accompanied by a golden, decorated with gems and pearls, purple backing of the Russian State crown of the reign of Catherine the Great.
The motto “The Cradle of Cosmonautics” is inscribed on the red ribbon with silver letters. On top of this ribbon is a silver figure formed by a ball. Three rods depart from it, which are facing down and to the left of the shield.
In 2001, the flag of Kaluga was approved. Two parts of the panel are occupied with the image of the historical coat of arms of the city, and one third is allotted to the red vertical strip on which the satellite is located. In the upper part of the Kaluga flag is the imperial crown of the reign of Catherine the Great. So in the flag "cradle of space" took into account the historical continuity from the XVIII to the XXI century. The blue color used on the flag of Kaluga is a symbol of selflessness, courage, the struggle for freedom and peace. Gold is a sign of greatness, intelligence, strength, generosity. A new flag was set above the city on September 14, 2001. Kaluga also has its own hymn, written by V. Volkov to the music of A. Tipakov.
Interesting Facts
There are many versions related to the date of the name of the city. At the end of the XIV century, Kaluga became part of the Moscow principality, therefore, from this time on, its rapid development has been taking place. There are several theories regarding the origin of the name of the city. For example, according to one theory, it arose from the phrase "near the meadow."
In the XVI century, it was on this territory that an important historical event happened, which is familiar to us as standing on the Ugra River (1489). Historians are convinced that this failed battle was the end of the period of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. In fact, Russian cities were repeatedly forced to fight off attacks from the Tatar hordes.
The beginning of the 17th century turned out to be a difficult period for the city. At first, supporters of False Dmitry I settled here, then Marina Mnishek was hiding in the city. Due to hostilities, villages and villages that were located near Kaluga were completely ruined. Due to the beggarly existence of the Kaluga population, Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Kaluga was exempted from paying various taxes for three years.
During the reform of the church, it was Kaluga that became the center of the schism.
At the end of the eighteenth century, the city was visited by Catherine II, and construction began in Kaluga according to the general plan, approved by the empress herself.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, a people's militia was formed here. It is Kaluga that becomes a reliable rear for the troops, for which the city receives personal thanks from Field Marshal M. I. Kutuzov.
Conclusion
The city is proud of its historical heritage, but special attention is paid to the time when the creator of the national cosmonautics K. E. Tsiolkovsky lived and worked here. It was in Kaluga that he lived most of his life - 43 years. A provincial and modest teacher has turned into a legendary personality, known in all countries involved in space technology and research. During his life, the scientist managed to write a huge number of different works related to rocket dynamics, aeronautics, astronomy, aviation.
In Kaluga, they are sensitive to all places related to the life and work of the “father of cosmonautics”, which is why they preserved the memorial house where the scientist lived and worked. Thanks to the efforts of Yu. A. Gagarin and S.P. Korolev, it was in Kaluga that they created the world's first unique cosmonautics museum. In its halls, visitors can get acquainted with the first space satellites of the Earth, modern orbital stations.
The museum halls have genuine copies of tools used during repair work at orbital stations, and mock-ups of unusual engineering structures. Here is a complete history of the development of rocket technology, there are exhibitions related to research on the planets of the solar system, the study of the artificial satellite of the earth-moon.
The townspeople for the Planetarium are especially proud. It also became the world's first museum complex, which used optical-mechanical and digital projection, which allows to obtain a unique effect of the real presence of visitors in outer space.
The projection of the created starry sky in the Kaluga Planetarium is complemented by a realistic view of the Milky Way, clusters of stars, nebulae. Visitors can enjoy views of the earth from space, in a matter of seconds, get to Mars, visit the Moon. Kaluga is a city that has a rich history. It can rightfully be considered the birthplace of Russian cosmonautics.
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was restored in the city. After restoration, the city of St. John the Baptist on Kirov and the Myrrh-bearing women appeared in all its glory to the citizens and guests of Kaluga.
The central cathedral, the Trinity Church, has been put in order. Unique is the fact that the construction of churches in Kaluga took place at different times. On them you can trace the historical heritage of the city. In recent years, the city authorities have been trying to allocate material resources for updating the Tsiolkovsky museum-estate, because Kaluga is considered to be the “cradle of space exploration” to him.