"Mayak" shone at the Museum of Cosmonautics: Russia's first crowdfunded satellite joins the exhibition

On September 27, 2025 , a solemn ceremony of handing over a new exhibit, a technological replica of the Mayak satellite, took place at the Museum of Cosmonautics at VDNH. This is Russia's first spacecraft created by space enthusiasts with funds raised through crowdfunding.

 

The original satellite was launched into orbit on July 14, 2017 from the Baikonur cosmodrome by a Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle. Now its stand-in will take pride of place in the collection of the country's leading space museum.

 

The honorable right to cut the ribbon was given to the developers of Mayak: Alexander Shayenko (leader of the 435nm team, portfolio project of the Frontiers of Science Guild), Anton Alexandrov, Mikhail Belokoskov and Sergey Kalinkin.

 

The Lighthouse has become a symbol of the fact that space is no longer available only for government programs. The project brought together thousands of enthusiasts across the country and opened a new page in the history of Russian cosmonautics.

 

Congratulations to our colleagues on the fact that their work has been included in the country's leading space museum !