The three millionth RUSSIA EXPO visitor went to the Vostochny Cosmodrome and saw a rocket launch

Alexei Kozyrev from Barnaul, together with his wife Elena, returned from a prize-winning family trip that included a trip to the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a tour of Blagoveshchensk, and an introduction to the inhabitants of the Zeya Nature Conservation Center.

On December 19, 2023, the Kozyrev family became the three millionth visitor to the RUSSIAEXPO. The couple received a gift of a trip to the Amur region, with a tour of the main sights, as well as a special gift - a postcard with congratulations and the signature of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The trip was designed for a family and also covered travel and accommodation expenses. It was prepared by the ANO «Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements "Russia"» together with the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation.

"Having learned about the trip, first of all, we experienced surprise. Because it was totally unexpected, we had not planned something like this - we had planned Baikal and Sochi. But in the end we are very happy that it turned out this way. Back at the RUSSIA EXPO, when we visited the stand of the Amur region, the wonderful guides there advised us how, for example, to match the dates of the trip to the launch of the rocket, and we did so. The trip was unforgettable. We managed to learn a lot of new things about the Amur region, to visit the grandiose Vostochny Cosmodrome and to visit the rocket launch. Such moments should be seen with your own eyes, they remain in your memory forever. We also looked at historical buildings in the center of Blagoveshchensk, which was also very interesting and informative. We walked along the embankment, from where you see China shining with bright lights. I must say that Blagoveshchensk shines no less brightly," Alexei Kozyrev noted.

Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing Konstantin Mikhailik is convinced that thanks to the trip Alexei Kozyrev and his family saw the diversity of our large country.

"The young people, I believe, are very lucky to see the diversity of our country. They traveled by car from Barnaul to Novosibirsk, from Novosibirsk they flew to the Amur region, where they visited a unique facility - the Vostochny Cosmodrome. This is the youngest cosmodrome built in the world. And they not only visited it, but also saw a rocket launch. That is, they saw the quintessence of all the country's technological thought, which soars into the sky. Loaded with satellites this pillar of memory is flying, which is insanely beautiful. But the most important thing is that they were told about how it was built and how many people put their soul into this object," said Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing Konstantin Mikhailik.

The program lasted four days, which allowed to evaluate the tourist potential of the Amur region in all its diversity. The first day included a tour of Blagoveshchensk with a visit to the observation deck with a panoramic view of China, and a monument in honor of the signing of the Treaty of Aigun. Later on, there was an excursion to the Amur Regional Museum of Local Lore named after G. S. Novikov-Daursky.

On the second day the guests traveled to the closed territorial administrative unit Tsiolkovsky. Here they visited the museum and exhibition space in the cultural and leisure center, and then were able to appreciate the "heart" of the cosmodrome, its launch complex, and watch the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket with the Fregat upper stage, carrying the hydrometeorological apparatus Meteor-M № 2-4, as well as 17 Russian and one Iranian satellites.

The third day of the trip was devoted to acquaintance with the inhabitants of the Zeya Nature Protection Center, including spotted deer, roe deer, musk deer, elk and a local legend - the Black Mustang horse. On the fourth day the guests visited the Friendship Park and the kalach shop-museum in Blagoveshchensk, and also visited an Old Believer family in the village of Volokovo, who returned from Brazil to their native places.