On October 10, 2021, a long-awaited inauguration of the garden complex "Man in the Universe" took place in Alexei Leonov Square in Gagarin.
The celebration began with the laying of flowers at the monument to the Hero of the Soviet Union, aviation colonel and first cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin.
One of the most significant events during the ceremony was the speech of the American cosmonaut, member of the Apollo–Soyuz program and colleague of A. A. Leonov, Thomas Stafford, who shared with the guests his memories of work and strong friendship with Alexei Arkhipovich.
Both the square and the sculptural compositions in the project were created on the basis of drawings and paintings by A. A. Leonov himself. All design solutions are aimed at creating a comfortable urban environment where residents and guests of the town may not only relax, but also get information about the role of our country in the history of space exploration, about the contribution of Russians to the development of cosmonautics, comprehend the greatness of the feat of a man who, for the first time in the world, performed a spacewalk. Illuminated fountains have also become the centre of attraction for young visitors to the garden.
In 2021, the whole world celebrated the 60th anniversary of the conquest of space - an event that has become a truly great national triumph for our country. On this anniversary, we want to thank once again everyone who took part in the work on such a memorable project, as well as express gratitude to the citizens who are not indifferent to the activities of our Foundation.
