An exciting workshop for children dedicated to the history of Soviet space exploration took place at the Russian House. Young participants not only learned about the great achievements of Soviet science, but also built a wooden model of the legendary Vostok rocket with their own hands — the spacecraft that carried the first human into space.

The event began with an educational lecture on the history of space exploration. The children learned about humanity’s first steps toward the stars, the development of the space industry, and the importance of Yuri Gagarin’s flight for world history. Special attention was paid to Gagarin’s feat: on April 12, 1961, aboard the Vostok-1 spacecraft, he completed the first human spaceflight in history.

The children listened with great interest to the story of the Vostok spacecraft’s design, the training of cosmonauts, and the difficult yet heroic path toward conquering outer space. For many participants, it was a real discovery to learn how complex and responsible the work of the engineers and scientists behind the first manned space program had been.

After the theoretical part, the practical workshop began. Under the guidance of the teacher, the children assembled wooden models of the Vostok rocket. The participants enthusiastically connected the parts, painted the elements, and tried to make their models as similar as possible to the real spacecraft. The activity was so engaging that many children asked when they would be able to build another spaceship — and which one it would be.

Interest in the event was extremely high: the number of participants wishing to attend significantly exceeded the technical capacity available. This once again showed how the theme of space continues to inspire children and spark a lively interest in science, technology, and history.

The teacher noted that such meetings help not only to broaden the horizons of the younger generation, but also to inspire children’s interest in engineering creativity, research, and the great achievements of humanity. The workshop took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, leaving the participants with vivid impressions and a desire to once again connect with the world of space.

And then… Then came a meeting with a real cosmonaut — Andrei Ivanovich Borisenko. You can read about how the meeting went here.