An educational visit was organised to the Nehru Planetarium on the occasion of the 65th Cosmonautics Day, on 12th April 2026. This day was organised under the Prime Minister Museum and Library, in collaboration with the Russian Centre for Science and Culture, also known as Russian House, New Delhi. The 2026 event celebrated the 65th anniversary of the first human spaceflight, featuring Russian pilot-cosmonaut and Hero of Russia, Mr. Denis Matveev. The visit aimed to enhance young minds’ understanding of the history of space science, human spaceflight experiences, and other practical aspects of cosmonaut training through direct interaction with experts in the field.
The event was entitle “Orbit of Inspiration” and included an interactive session with Mr. Denis Matveev. Firstly, we had a sneak peek of the display, showcasing Russian-Indian space cooperation. The main event took place at the sky theatre, starting with a short film on Russia’s history in space and its great achievements in the cosmonautics world. We learnt about the great men and women behind today’s advanced technology and the sacrifices they made. We also learned about several satellites like Proton, Luna 7, and Luna 3, and their contributions to gathering space information as well as capturing various cosmic images. In fact, we even learned about the animals that had traveled to space.
This event was a special tribute to Yuri Gagarin, the first human to travel to space. Hence, it also focused on his remarkable journey of discipline, commitment, and sacrifice. Following this, another short film was shown, which focused on cosmonaut training in zero gravity and the effects of detachment from Earth. The visuals of training provided valuable insights into the rigorous preparation of cosmonauts, highlighting the importance of physical endurance, mental resilience, and teamwork required for successful space missions.
After the short film, we had an interactive session with Mr. Denis Matveev. Students and teachers from our school, as well as from various other schools, asked him questions about his journey, the challenges he faced, and the impact of space travel on his life. He answered everything with great patience and emphasized the need for discipline, teamwork, and precision—not just to become a successful cosmonaut, but also a great person. This was indeed a golden opportunity to interact with such a distinguished cosmonaut, and the session must have inspired many young minds.
