One of several major landmarks visible from outside VDNKh metro is the Conquerors of Space Monument which takes the form of a rocket taking off with the base of the monument resembling the plume from the exhaust. In total it is 107 metres tall. The monument was opened in 1964 to celebrate the achievements of the Soviet space race. Both sides of the monument's base are decorated with large reliefs depicting scientists, engineers, cosmonauts, programmers and other workers who were involved in the space programme. Also featured here is Laika, the first dog in space, and a group of people heading forward under a banner bearing the image of Vladimir Lenin.  Immediately in front of the monument, taking pride of place, is a statue of the man who made it all possible - the scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. 

Cosmonauts Alley

The path leading up to the monument is known as Cosmonauts Alley and there are more statues here. The alley starts with two sculptures: a globe of the universe and a globe of the Earth. Further up is a model of the solar system and a statue of Sergey Korolev, the chief rocket engineer and designer behind Yuri Gagarin's historic first flight. Beyond this on the left are busts of the scientist Mstislav Kelydysh and the engineer Valentin Glushko, who both also made an invaluable contribution to the Soviet space race. Opposite are busts of the cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova, Pavel Belyaev, Aleksey Leonov, Vladimir Komarov and of course Yuri Gagarin.