Solar System Space Research

This part of exposition is about the history of missions to the Solar System and the planets - Moon, Venus, Mars. It deals with the history of piloted and robotic missions, including some projects and missions which were not fulfilled. There are some full-scale models of the Soviet space probes, and information about both the "Apollo" missions of USA, and the unfulfilled N-1 and L-3 Soviet piloted mission to the Moon.

- Luna-2. Full-scale model. In September 14,1959 this artificial space probe reached the Moon's surface for the first time. Rocket booster - R-7 (The "Moon" modification with additional "E" top stage). Designer - Sergey P. Korolev.

- Luna-3. Full-scale model. In October 7,1959 it took the first photos of the dark side of the Moon. Rocket booster - R-7 (The "Moon" modification with additional "E" top stage). Designer - Sergey P. Korolev.

- Luna-9. Full-scale model. In February 3,1966 the descent capsule of this probe made the first soft landing on the Moon's surface and took the first Lunar TV panoramic photographs. It operated on the Moon's surface for 47 hours. Designer - Sergey P. Korolev.

- Luna-16. Full-scale model. This space probe successfully completed an Earth-Moon-Earth mission from September 12,1970 to September 24,1970, and brought back to Earth samples of Moon soil. Designer - Georgy N. Babakin (1914-1971).

- Lunokhod-2. Full-scale model. This automated moon rover was sent to the Moon's surface during the "Luna-21" mission. It worked for 5 days, starting on January 16,1973. it covered 37 km. on the Moon's surface.

- Venera-1. Full-scale model. This interplanetary space probe was launched to Venus in February 12,1961 and began human exploration and research of other planets of our Solar system. In May 19-20,1961 it became the first artificial satellite of Venus. Rocket booster - R-7. Designer - Sergey P. Korolev.

- Venera-9. Full-scale model of the descent capsule. It was launched to Venus in June 8, 1975. In October 22,1975, the descent capsule of "Venera-9" made the first soft landing on the surface of Venus. It operated on the surface of Venus for 30 minutes, conducted research, made photo panoramas of surface, and transmited them back to the Earth. Rocket booster - Proton.

- Mars-3. Full-scale model. it was launched to Mars in May 28,1971. On December 2, 1971 it's descent capsule made a soft landing on the surface of Mars. This mission was not sucsessful, because of a dust storm on the Mars surface. Rocket booster - Proton.

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