10 Captivating Illustrations of Soviet Space Exploration from the 20th Century

From communicating with Martians to living on the moon, discover where Soviet magazines envisioned the space race would take us during the Cold War.

During the Russian Revolution, Soviet authorities turned to popular science magazines to inform the public, showcase the nation's achievements, and ignite a passion for a future where the Soviet Union aspired to be a global leader in science, technology, and nearly every other field. These magazines were tailored for men, women, and even children, offering content from detailed guides on building a radio to science fiction tales by the Strugatsky brothers, Arkady and Boris, and other prominent authors.

This trend persisted well beyond the 1920s. In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, marking the start of the Space Age and an era of remarkable events in space exploration, all covered extensively by popular science magazines, which also speculated about the future. In *Soviet Space Graphics: Cosmic Visions From the USSR*, Moscow Design Museum curator Alexandra Sankova assembled over 250 illustrations from Soviet media, capturing the awe and optimism of an era when it seemed humanity was on the verge of communicating with Martians and colonizing the moon. From dragonfly-shaped aircraft to cartoon-inspired satellite devices, here are 10 standout images from the book, available for purchase from Phaidon, which can be found here.

1. *Technology for the Youth*, Issue 2 // 1959

This illustration by B. Dashkov was featured alongside the article titled "What Would a Space Station on the Moon Look Like?"

2. *Technology for the Youth*, Issue 8 // 1958

N. Kolchitsky's *Machines—Astronauts* imagines the various parts of Sputnik 3 as whimsical, cartoon-like characters.

3. *Young Technician*, Issue 8 // 1979

R. Avotin honors the graduating class of a young bionics enthusiast club with this illustration, whose caption reads: "Nature gave wings not only to birds. Maybug, dragonfly, butterfly... How do they fly? Perhaps by solving this riddle, designers will be able to create the perfect aircraft."

4. *Sailors of the Universe* by Boris Anibel

In L. Epple's illustration for Boris Anibel's science fiction novel *Sailors of the Universe*, humans encounter enigmatic Martians.

5. *Technology for the Youth*, Issue 4 // 1956

A. Pobedinsky's illustration for the article "Brain Emits Stars on the Oscilloscope Screen" explores the idea of the human brain emitting electromagnetic waves and the potential for telepathic abilities.

6. *Knowledge is Power*, Issue 10 // 1960

This is V. Viktorov's sketch of Belka ("Whitey") and Strelka ("Little Arrow"), the first living creatures—along with 42 mice, two rats, a rabbit, and some flies—to survive space, aboard Sputnik 5 in August 1960.

7. *Knowledge Is Power*, Issue 2 // 1954

K. Artseulov illustrated the article "Five Days in a Hot Air Balloon," which explores the possibility of using hot air balloons for long-distance travel.

8. *Young Technician*, Issue 7, 1968

An illustration by R. Avotin shows children joyfully orbiting a planet, as if they're enjoying a ride at an amusement park.

9. *Outlook*, Issue 4 // 1976

This illustration by S. Alimov is titled "Yuri Gagarin: Let's Go!" It was featured in an issue of the magazine that included a flexi-disc record. The first track on the record was "Planet Earth Is Beautiful," a song by Gagarin himself, who became the first man to orbit Earth on April 12, 1961.

10. *Young Technician*, Issue 10 // 1964

R. Avotin illustrated the article "Space Greenhouse," which explores the potential for humans to grow plants in outer space.

You can purchase your copy of *Soviet Space Graphics: Cosmic Visions From the USSR*—currently available for $40—from Phaidon.